title: The approach of general surgeons to oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery in Turkey: a survey of practice patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oncoplastic Breast Surgery (OBS), which is a combination of oncological procedures and plastic surgery techniques, has recently gained widespread use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the experiences, practice patterns and preferred approaches to Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery (ORBS) undertaken by general surgeons specializing in breast surgery in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2013 and February 2014, an eleven-question survey was distributed among 208 general surgeons specializing in breast surgery. The questions focused on the attitudes of general surgeons toward performing oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS), the role of the general surgeon in OBS and their training for it as well as their approaches to evaluating cosmetic outcomes in Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) and informing patients about ORBS preoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses from all 208 surgeons indicated that 79.8% evaluated the cosmetic outcomes of BCS, while 94.2% informed their patients preoperatively about ORBS. 52.5% performed BCS (31.3% themselves, 21.1% together with a plastic surgeon). 53.8% emphasized that general surgeons should carry out OBS themselves. 36.1% of respondents suggested that OBS training should be included within mainstream surgical training, whereas 27.4% believed this training should be conducted by specialised centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although OBS procedure rates are low in Turkey, it is encouraging to see general surgeons practicing ORBS themselves. The survey demonstrates that our general surgeons aspire to learn and utilize OBS techniques.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Emiroğlu
authors: Department of General Surgery, Van Regional Training and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey.
authors: İsmail
authors: İ
authors: Sert
authors: Department of General Surgery, Erzincan University, Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: İnal
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Cem
authors: C
authors: Karaali
authors: Department of General Surgery, Erzincan University, Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Peker
authors: Department of General Surgery, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Enver
authors: E
authors: İlhan
authors: Department of General Surgery, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Gülcelik
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Varlık
authors: V
authors: Erol
authors: Department of General Surgery, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Hilmi
authors: H
authors: Güngör
authors: Department of General Surgery, İstanbul Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Didem
authors: D
authors: Can
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Cengiz
authors: C
authors: Aydın
keywords: General surgeon; oncoplastic breast surgery; survey