Stereotypes and social representations associated with pediatric surgeons among medical students, residents and physicians: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Objectives: The social representation (SR) of pediatric surgeons (PSs) can influence the attractiveness of a specialty and the interaction between PSs and other physicians. This study aims to describe and understand the stereotypes and social representations (SRs) associated with PSs among medical students, residents, and physicians in France.

Methods: This anonymous nationwide web-based survey was posted on social networks and disseminated by e-mail by medical students and residents' associations. It used hierarchical evocation methods. Qualitative analyses were performed using the Reinert method with factorial analyses. SR was graded from 1 to 5.

Results: A total of 278 people responded to the survey. Pediatric surgery holds a rather neutral social representation (median 3/5 [IQR 3-4]) but only 3.6% of medical peers strongly considered practicing PS, ranking it 10th out of 12 surgical specialties. The specialty is considered as wide, intense, meticulous, and demanding surgical specialty but also as hyperspecialized and confined to academic centers with a unique parent-child-surgeon relationship, embodying traits such as "empathy", "humanity", "passion", "beautiful[ness]" and "honorab[ility]". The willingness to pursue a carreer in a PS was positively influenced not only by its social representation (p < 0.001) but also by completing an internship in pediatric surgery (p < 0.01) and having a family member practicing pediatric surgery (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, attending to courses on pediatric surgery was not associated with willingness to become a PS.

Conclusions: The SR of pediatric surgery is rather neutral although only a minority of responders consider practicing pediatric surgery. Efforts should be made to enhance the attractiveness of this specialty to medical students.