title: Specialist titles used in clinical correspondence: a UK survey of oral and maxillofacial surgery consultants.
abstract: We explored how oral and maxillofacial (OMF) consultants describe themselves in their correspondence. We did a telephone survey of OMF surgeons' secretaries and compiled data on the specialist titles used. Data were available for 290 consultants and 19 different titles were identified. A total of 190 (66%) consultants used the title OMF surgeon alone and a further 22 (8%) combined it with the name of a subspecialty. The remaining 78 (27%) used 11 alternative titles. Of those surveyed, 212 (73%) continue to use the specialty title of OMF surgeon with or without the name of a subspecialty comprising a readily identifiable group of specialists.
authors.affiliation: East Midlands Deanery (Trent) OMFS training programme, Don Valley House, Sheffield, UK; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK. Electronic address: drshafiqislam@hotmail.co.uk.
authors.forename: Shofiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Wessex Deanery, Southern House, Otterbourne, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Siddiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Coventry, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D003253:Consultants; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Clinical correspondence; Consultants; Nomenclature; Oral and maxillofacial surgeons; Specialist titles