Al Lawati Abdullah, Al Majarfi Firas, Allouyahi Mohammed M, Al-Hinaai Musaab, Al Lawati Meetham, Al Hashmi Sheikhan, Al-Muqaimi Nawaf
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OMN.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Khoula Hospital, Muscat, OMN.
Cureus. 2025 Feb 24;17(2):e79542. doi: 10.7759/cureus.79542. eCollection 2025 Feb.
Introduction Plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to restore, enhance, or reconstruct body structures. Unlike other specialties, it is not confined to specific anatomical areas, organ systems, or age groups. Despite significant growth in the field, it remains poorly understood by healthcare professionals, medical students, and the public. Misconceptions about the scope and procedures of plastic surgery persist, potentially influencing career choices and referral patterns. This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of medical students at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, Oman, regarding plastic surgery, marking, to the best of our knowledge, the first investigation of this topic in Oman. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a validated questionnaire to assess plastic surgery awareness among undergraduate medical students at SQU. The sample included 310 medical students, excluding foundation-level students. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee at SQU. Results The study revealed a high level of awareness among students, with 194 (62.6%) correctly identifying cosmetic surgery as a subset of plastic surgery. However, misconceptions persisted, with 65 (20.9%) labeling plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery as separate entities, 19 (6.1%) choosing plastic and cosmetic surgery as the same thing, and 32 (10.3%) uncertain. The internet was the primary information source for 217 (70.0%) participants, and Instagram for 182 (58.7%) participants. Only 26 (8.4%) participants selected plastic surgery as a future career choice, while 157 (50.6%) preferred other specialties. Age and academic level significantly influenced decision-making. Conclusion While SQU medical students demonstrated moderate awareness of plastic surgery, gaps in knowledge remain. Increased exposure through curricula and clinical rotations could enhance understanding and interest in this specialty, addressing misconceptions and improving patient care outcomes.
引言 整形手术涵盖了旨在修复、改善或重建身体结构的美容和重建手术。与其他专科不同，它并不局限于特定的解剖区域、器官系统或年龄组。尽管该领域有显著发展，但医疗保健专业人员、医学生和公众对其仍知之甚少。关于整形手术范围和程序的误解依然存在，这可能会影响职业选择和转诊模式。本研究探讨了阿曼马斯喀特苏丹卡布斯大学（SQU）医学生对整形手术的知识、态度和看法，据我们所知，这是阿曼首次对该主题进行的调查。方法 采用经过验证的问卷进行横断面观察性研究，以评估SQU本科医学生对整形手术的认知。样本包括310名医学生，不包括基础水平的学生。使用IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows，版本27（2020年发布；IBM公司，美国纽约州阿蒙克）进行统计分析，并获得了SQU医学研究与伦理委员会的伦理批准。结果 研究显示学生的认知水平较高，194名（62.6%）学生正确将美容手术识别为整形手术的一个子集。然而，误解仍然存在，65名（20.9%）学生将整形手术和美容手术视为不同的实体，19名（6.1%）学生认为整形手术和美容手术是同一回事，32名（10.3%）学生不确定。互联网是217名（70.0%）参与者的主要信息来源，Instagram是182名（58.7%）参与者的主要信息来源。只有26名（8.4%）参与者选择整形手术作为未来职业选择，而157名（50.6%）学生更喜欢其他专科。年龄和学术水平对决策有显著影响。结论 虽然SQU医学生对整形手术表现出一定的认知，但知识差距仍然存在。通过课程和临床轮转增加接触可以增强对该专科的理解和兴趣，消除误解并改善患者护理结果。
