The misconception of plastic surgery scope amongst general practitioners in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

The scope of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is often misunderstood amongst both public and professionals, including the general practitioners (GP) who play vital roles in referring patients. Unlike other subspecialties, which are circumscribed by subgroup patients, specific organs, or diseases, the versatility of plastic surgery is driven by the principle of the surgical technique being malleable to each clinical case. This study aimed to demonstrate how well general practitioners in Kupang City acknowledge the scope of plastic surgery. The 30-Question electronic survey was filled out by GPs in several hospitals, PHCs, and clinics whose certificate of registration is based in Kupang City. Respondents should match the given cases to one subspecialist surgeon that the GPs think fits best. In total, 83 GPs participated; 63.9% (n=53) were female, aged 27.95 (±3.53 years), 77.1% (n=64) practised in a hospital, and 67.5% (n=56) graduated from medical school in Java. Only 2.4% (n=2) chose a plastic surgeon whom they will refer to among three hand cases, 6% (n=5) in four craniomaxillofacial cases, and 10.8% (n=9) in five reconstructive cases. The GPs tend to associate cosmetic procedures with plastic surgeons, while reconstructive surgery cases like hand or craniomaxillofacial cases were correlated with non-plastic surgeons. The scope of plastic surgery needs to be further introduced in the medical student curriculum; thus, GP can be more exposed to the field and refer patients accurately.