title: Variability in physician opinions about the indications for knee arthroplasty.
abstract: To determine how much of variability in physician opinion about the indications for knee arthroplasty is due to inconsistency in individual physicians' opinions. We surveyed 201 orthopedic surgeons, 141 rheumatologists, and 455 family physicians. Physicians were asked how 34 patient characteristics affected their decision to perform or refer for knee arthroplasty. Surgeons and referring physicians agreed on how 4 and 2 of 34 patient characteristics affected their decision about knee arthroplasty, respectively. Half of the variability in opinion among physicians could be accounted for by inconsistency in their individual responses to the survey 6 weeks apart (mean intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.49). Although surgeons and referring physicians vary in their opinion, half of the variability could be attributed to individual physician inconsistency.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON,M5G1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Gillian A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hawker
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hudak
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Croxford
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Glazier
authors.forename: Nizar N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Mahomed
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kreder
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Coyte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005104:Expert Testimony; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data