Second opinions: Do otolaryngologist demographics matter?

Autor: Gawel EM; Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: eringawe@buffalo.edu., DiNardo LA; Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: ldinardo@buffalo.edu., Corbin AF; Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: acorbin@buffalo.edu., Friedel JE; Department of Psychology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA. Electronic address: jfriedel@georgiasouthern.edu., Carr MM; Department of Otolaryngology, Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address: mcarr@buffalo.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: American journal of otolaryngology [Am J Otolaryngol] 2024 Jul-Aug; Vol. 45 (4), pp. 104322. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Apr 21.
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104322
Abstrakt: Objective: Pediatric patients and their caregivers may receive information from their primary care physician (PCP) that does not match current American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) guidelines. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of parents deciding to seek a second opinion based on the demographics of pediatric otolaryngologists who deliver guideline supported advice, contrary to advice from their child's PCP.
Methods: A survey was distributed to parents in a pediatric otolaryngology clinic between June 2021 and July 2023. Demographics included parent age category, gender, race, and age of youngest child. The survey included a scenario depicting recurrent otitis media with clear ears and a suggestion to defer tympanostomy tube insertion per AAO guidelines after their child's PCP recommended tubes. Thirteen variations of otolaryngologist photos were used in the case, including a control case with no picture.
Results: Of the 658 participants, 460 (69.9 %) were female. 551 (83.7 %) were aged 30-49 years, 70 (10.7 %) were younger, and 37 (5.6 %) were older. 545 (82.8 %) were White, 30 (4.6 %) were Black, 20 (3.0 %) were Asian, and 31 (4.7 %) were Hispanic. 39.9 % of parents would seek a second opinion if an otolaryngologist recommended watchful waiting following evaluation of their child's otitis media. Participants given the control case were 2.23 times more likely to listen to the otolaryngologist's advice (p = .025). If a picture was provided, respondents were more likely to follow advice given if the pictured otolaryngologist was female (p = .025, OR = 1.47) or Asian (p = .042, OR = 1.53).
Conclusion: In this group, there is evidence that physician race and gender may influence decision making when considering action versus monitoring in the context of recurrent otitis media.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: