Section of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118-2393, USA.
J Vasc Surg. 2010 Mar;51(3):771-5, 775.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2009.08.091. Epub 2009 Nov 24.
During the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the number of vascular procedures performed in the United States. Due to the increase in the size of the aging population, this trend is predicted to continue. Despite this, general public knowledge about vascular surgery appears low. This gap may significantly affect the success of vascular surgery as a specialty. To objectively define knowledge about vascular surgery, we administered a questionnaire to both a sample of the general population and medical students. The Vascular Surgery Knowledge Questionnaire (VSQ), a 58-item multiple choice survey, was designed to assess knowledge about the field of vascular surgery, including types of procedures commonly performed, presenting illnesses, training, and financial compensation. VSQ was tested for reliability and validity. It was administered to a sample of the general population (GP) and first year medical students (MS) via a random digit dial telephone survey and a paper-based survey, respectively. VSQ Score was derived by calculating the percent of questions from the 38-item, non-demographic part of the questionnaire answered correctly and expressed in numerical form. The maximum score possible was 100. Statistical analysis was used to assess differences in VSQ scores. Two hundred GP and 160 MS subjects completed the questionnaire. The mean VSQ score for GP and MS groups was 54 and 67 (P < .01), respectively. Forty-one percent of the GP group received a score of less than 50. Only 50% of the GP and 51% of MS cohorts agreed with the statement that vascular surgeons perform procedures on all blood vessels with the exception of the heart and brain. Just 24% of the GP group agreed with the statement that vascular surgeons treat patients with wounds that do not heal. Finally, only half of the GP group agreed that vascular surgeons treat patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. The GP cohort significantly underestimated the average length of postgraduate training (five years) to become a vascular surgeon. Level of education, income, and residence in the Western states significantly correlated with higher scores. General population subjects who admitted to knowing a vascular surgeon received similar scores to those who did not (58 vs. 53, P >.05). These findings support our hypothesis that there is a significant knowledge deficit among both the general population and medical students about the field of vascular surgery. This has protean implications for the future of our specialty and public health in the United States.
在过去的十年中，美国进行的血管手术数量急剧增加。由于老年人口的增加，这种趋势预计将继续下去。尽管如此，公众对血管外科学的了解似乎很低。这种差距可能会对血管外科学作为一个专业的成功产生重大影响。为了客观地定义血管外科学的知识，我们向普通人群和医学生样本发放了问卷。血管外科学知识问卷（VSQ）是一个 58 项多项选择调查，旨在评估血管外科学领域的知识，包括常见手术类型、发病情况、培训和财务补偿。VSQ 经过了可靠性和有效性测试。它通过随机数字拨号电话调查和纸质问卷调查分别向普通人群（GP）和一年级医学生（MS）样本进行了测试。VSQ 分数是通过计算 38 项非人口统计学部分问卷中答对问题的百分比得出的，并以数字形式表示。可能的最高分数为 100。统计分析用于评估 VSQ 分数的差异。200 名 GP 和 160 名 MS 受试者完成了问卷。GP 和 MS 组的平均 VSQ 分数分别为 54 和 67（P <.01）。41%的 GP 组得分低于 50。只有 50%的 GP 和 51%的 MS 群体同意血管外科医生对除心脏和大脑以外的所有血管进行手术的说法。只有 24%的 GP 群体同意血管外科医生治疗无法愈合的伤口的说法。最后，只有一半的 GP 群体同意血管外科医生治疗腹主动脉瘤患者。GP 组明显低估了成为血管外科医生所需的研究生培训平均时长（五年）。教育程度、收入和居住在西部各州与较高的分数显著相关。承认认识血管外科医生的普通人群与不认识的人得分相似（58 对 53，P >.05）。这些发现支持我们的假设，即普通人群和医学生对血管外科学领域都存在明显的知识不足。这对我们专业的未来和美国的公共健康产生了多方面的影响。
