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Britton BV, Nagarajan N, Zogg CK, Selvarajah S, Schupper AJ, Kironji AG, Lwin AT, Cerullo M, Salim A, Haider AH. Awareness of racial/ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes and care: factors affecting acknowledgment and action. Am J Surg 2015; 212:102-108.e2. [PMID: 26522774 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated racial/ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes and care. Surgeon awareness and its association with institutional action remain unclear. The study sought to assess surgeons' awareness of racial/ethnic disparities, ascertain whether demographic and practice factors influence acknowledgement of disparities, and determine whether surgeons are seeking to mitigate disparities. METHODS Anonymous online survey was administered to a random sample of American College of Surgeons (ACS) general surgeons (July 2013 to March 2014). Responses were weighted for nonresponse and risk-adjusted using logistic regression. RESULTS 172 surgeons completed the survey. Levels of acknowledged disparities were low. Less than one half reported institutional efforts to address disparities, and less than one fourth had taken efforts to investigate disparities in their personal practice. Several respondent factors including Academic Medical Center affiliation, awareness of the ACS statement on optimal access, and year of medical school graduation significantly associated with expressed acknowledgment of disparities. CONCLUSIONS Such associations speak to the need for continued efforts to promote enhanced provider awareness and participation. As the field of surgical disparities moves from understanding to action, we must acknowledge the contributing role that providers play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanne V Britton
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Neeraja Nagarajan
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cheryl K Zogg
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA
| | - Shalini Selvarajah
- International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander J Schupper
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Gatebe Kironji
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Albert T Lwin
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marcelo Cerullo
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ali Salim
- Division of Trauma, Burns, and Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adil H Haider
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA.
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