Effect of specialty and recent experience on perioperative decision-making for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether recent experience and specialty choice would affect physician adherence to evidence-based guidelines.

Design

In a series of computer-simulated encounters, participants weighed the risk of spontaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture against the risk of perioperative death to determine timing for elective repair. Guideline recommendations and statistical information on the risks of rupture and surgical death were provided.

Setting

Annual meetings of the American Geriatrics Society, American College of Surgeons, and American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Participants

Physicians.

Intervention

Before the simulation, each participant was randomly exposed to one of three simulated outcomes: death during watchful waiting (

SUBMITTER: Dale W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3470744 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature