Are Burnt-out Doctors Prone to Seek Cosmetic Surgery? A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have so far examined several psychosocial factors associated with an interest in aesthetic plastic surgery. Among them, gender, teasing history, marital status, education, social networks and body dysmorphic disorders are all predictors of interest in cosmetic surgery. Given the fact that professional status can influence health-related attitudes, our objective was firstly to identify if medical professionals are more likely to express interest in plastic surgery compared to non-medical professionals. Secondary, given the high rate of burn-out among physicians, the study examined the association between burn-out and interest in plastic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred doctors and 100 non-medical professionals with a University degree completed a questionnaire regarding their interest in undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery, in particular minimally invasive procedures and 9 specific aesthetic operations. Additionally, doctors completed the standardized Maslach burn-out inventory. The sample consisted of 40.5% men and 59.5% women (mean age = 34 years). RESULTS: Data analysis using the Mann-Whitney test revealed that women and medical professionals were more likely to express interest in cosmetic plastic surgery (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively). Regarding the medical profession and interest in specific operations, there has not been found any association except for liposuction (p < 0.001). Results also showed a significant positive correlation between interest in cosmetic procedures and burn-out syndrome (r = 0.53 p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The original finding that doctors are prone to seek elective plastic surgery may be attributed to their familiarity with invasive procedures. The correlation between burn-out syndrome and interest in cosmetic surgery could reveal a way of coping with the work demands. Results of this study can be used for the development of clinical tools for the screening of patients for elective cosmetic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Dupuytren in a Child: Rare Presentation of a Rare Clinical Entity.

Dupuytren disease in children younger than 10 years is rare and only 8 histologically proven cases have been reported. A histologically proven Dupuytren disease in a 10-year-old with an uncommon clinical presentation as a nodule on the radial side of the middle phalanx of the little finger is documented. Dupuytren's disease should be in the differential diagnosis in cases of nodules and contractures in the palm and fingers of children.

A systematic review of the factors predicting the interest in cosmetic plastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: A systematic review of the literature was performed to clarify the psychosocial characteristics of patients who have an interest in cosmetic plastic surgery. METHODS: Medical literature was reviewed by two independent researchers, and a third reviewer evaluated their results. RESULTS: Twelve studies addressing the predictors of interest in cosmetic surgery were finally identified and analysed. Interest in cosmetic surgery was associated with epidemiological factors, their social networks, their psychological characteristics, such as body image, self-esteem and other personality traits and for specific psychopathology and found that these may either positively or negatively predict their motivation to seek and undergo a cosmetic procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The review examined the psychosocial characteristics associated with an interest in cosmetic surgery. Understanding cosmetic patients' characteristics, motivation and expectation for surgery is an important aspect of their clinical care to identify those patients more likely to benefit most from the procedure.

Occupational chemical burns: a 2-year experience in the emergency department.

Chemical burn injuries are a result of exposure to acid, alkali, or organic compounds. In this retrospective study, a total of 21 patients suffering occupational chemical burns, came to the emergency room at the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, from 2008 to 2010; 76.2% were workers, 19% were farmers, and 4.8% were desk officers. The majority of burns were due to exposure to acid (61.9%). Upper extremities were the most frequently injured area followed by the lower extremities and thorax. None of the patients needed further hospital care, but in the follow-up, four of the patients suffered keloid. Proper surgical treatment at the emergency room decreases the length of hospital stay for patients who suffer chemically induced burns.