How do patients choose their surgeon? Example of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract Introduction: In this age of social media, with an ever-higher profile for surgery and rankings for the general public, patients’ criteria for choosing a surgeon or team are not precisely known, especially in France. We therefore conducted a prospective study concerning anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 1) to determine how patients came to know their surgeon, and 2) to identify factors affecting final choice. Hypothesis: Patients’ choice of surgeon is affected by scores found in social media and rankings found in the press. Material and method: A prospective continuous study included all patients operated on, without standardization of technique, in 3 hospitals (public and private sector). An anonymous questionnaire on surgeon selection criteria, scored 0 to 10, was distributed on a voluntary basis on the day of surgery scheduling. Results: One hundred and five patients were included. They had come to know of their surgeon via family or friends or their personal physician in more than two-thirds of cases. The essential criterion of final choice was the clarity of the written and oral information provided in consultation (mean score, 8.09±1.83). Other factors included wait-time to surgery (7.39±2.25) and to first consultation (7.26±2.01) and the surgeon’s reputation (7.42/10 ± 2.43). Conclusion: “Word of mouth” and the quality if information provided in consultation motivated final choice, more than any influence of social media or press hospital rankings. Level of evidence: IV; prospective observational study without control group