title: The Public Recognizes Plastic Surgeons as Leading Experts in the Treatment of Congenital Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the public perception of plastic surgeons (PS) as craniofacial surgery specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the public (N = 1514) were asked to choose 1 or 2 specialists that they perceived to be an expert for 13 craniofacial surgery-related scenarios. Response patterns were distributed as "plastic surgeon alone" (PS alone), "PS combined with other specialists", or "no plastic surgeon" (No PS). Sociodemographic data, previous plastic surgery contact, and source of reported information were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  "Plastic surgeon alone" was significantly (all P < 0.05) more recognized as experts than all other response patterns particularly in congenital anomalies-related scenarios (83.33%). There was a significantly (all P < 0.05) poor understanding of the role of PSs in head/neck infection management, chronic facial palsy management, dental disease management, head and neck cancer surgery, vascular malformation surgery, and facial fracture surgery. Sex, age, education level, health care professional, prior plastic surgery contact, and source of reported information were not significant (all P < 0.05) determinants of "PS" as the response in bivariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public recognized PSs as experts primarily in treatment of congenital cleft and craniofacial anomalies, but as the overall scope of craniofacial surgery practice was poorly understood and known, improved public education is needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, SOBRAPAR (Brazilian Society of Research and Assistance to Craniofacial Rehabilitation) Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Denadai
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samartine Junior
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Denadai
authors.forename: Cassio Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Raposo-Amaral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000601:surgery; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D004522:Educational Status; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011639:Public Opinion; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult