Abstract
Background: Decision-making under uncertainty may be influenced by the individual’s personality. The primary aim was to explore associations between surgeon personality traits and colorectal anastomotic decision-making.
Methods: Colorectal surgeons worldwide participated in a two-part online survey. Part 1 evaluated surgeon characteristics using the Big Five Inventory to measure personality (five domains: agreeableness; conscientiousness; extraversion; emotional stability; openness) in response to scenarios presented in Part 2 involving anastomotic decisions (i.e., rejoining the bowel with/without temporary stomas, or permanent diversion with end colostomy).
Anastomotic decisions were compared using repeated measure ANOVAs. Mean scores of traits domains were compared with normative data using 2-tailed t-tests.
Results: 186 surgeons participated, with 127 surgeons completing both parts of the survey (68.3%). Most surgeons were male (n = 131, 70.4%) and Europe-based (n = 144, 77.4%). 41.4% began independent practice within the last five years (n = 77). Surgeon personality differed from the general population, with significantly higher levels of
emotional stability (3.25 vs 2.97 respectively), lower levels of agreeableness (3.03 vs 3.74), extraversion (2.81 vs 3.38) and openness (3.19 vs 3.67) and similar levels of conscientiousness (3.42 vs 3.40 (all p <0.001)). Female surgeons had significantly lower levels of openness (p<0.001) than males (3.06 vs 3.25). Personality was associated with anastomotic decision making in specific scenarios.
Conclusions: Colorectal surgeons have different personality traits from the general population. Certain traits seem to be associated with anastomotic decision-making but only in specific scenarios. Further exploration of the association of personality, risk-taking and decision-making in surgery is necessary.
Methods: Colorectal surgeons worldwide participated in a two-part online survey. Part 1 evaluated surgeon characteristics using the Big Five Inventory to measure personality (five domains: agreeableness; conscientiousness; extraversion; emotional stability; openness) in response to scenarios presented in Part 2 involving anastomotic decisions (i.e., rejoining the bowel with/without temporary stomas, or permanent diversion with end colostomy).
Anastomotic decisions were compared using repeated measure ANOVAs. Mean scores of traits domains were compared with normative data using 2-tailed t-tests.
Results: 186 surgeons participated, with 127 surgeons completing both parts of the survey (68.3%). Most surgeons were male (n = 131, 70.4%) and Europe-based (n = 144, 77.4%). 41.4% began independent practice within the last five years (n = 77). Surgeon personality differed from the general population, with significantly higher levels of
emotional stability (3.25 vs 2.97 respectively), lower levels of agreeableness (3.03 vs 3.74), extraversion (2.81 vs 3.38) and openness (3.19 vs 3.67) and similar levels of conscientiousness (3.42 vs 3.40 (all p <0.001)). Female surgeons had significantly lower levels of openness (p<0.001) than males (3.06 vs 3.25). Personality was associated with anastomotic decision making in specific scenarios.
Conclusions: Colorectal surgeons have different personality traits from the general population. Certain traits seem to be associated with anastomotic decision-making but only in specific scenarios. Further exploration of the association of personality, risk-taking and decision-making in surgery is necessary.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1156-1163 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | British Journal of Surgery |
| Volume | 109 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Early online date | 19 Jul 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |
| Event | Tripartite Colorectal Meeting : Looking Forward, Looking After – Mā Muri Ki Mua - Auckland, New Zealand Duration: 22 Feb 2022 → 24 Feb 2022 https://www.tripartite2022.com/ |
Bibliographical note
FundingThis work was kindly supported by Bowel Research UK and the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association. The funders had no influence in the design, delivery, or interpretation of this study.
Acknowledgements
The study authors are grateful to all participants who took part, as well as those individuals and professional bodies who shared the Plato Project survey, including: the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, the COVIDSurg Collaborative Group, the Turkish Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the Italian Surgical Research Group.
Data Availability Statement
Supplementary materialSupplementary material is available at BJS online.