title: [Orthopaedics' megalomania - myth or mobbing?]
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is a general impression in the world of medicine that orthopaedic surgeons differ from doctors of other specialities in terms of intellect and self-confidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-confidence of orthopaedics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We asked doctors from 30 different specialities to fill out a questionnaire. In addition to this, the participating orthopaedics were asked to rate their self-perceived surgical skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 120 orthopaedics and 416 non-orthopaedic doctors completed the questionnaire. There was no difference in GSE scores between orthopaedics and other doctors (p = 0.58). 98% of young orthopaedics estimated that their surgical talent was average or above average when compared with their colleagues on the same level of education. 72% believed that they were "equally talented", "more talented", or "far more talented" than their colleagues on a higher level of education. 76% believed that when assisting a senior surgeon the patients would "sometimes" (60%), "often" (14%) or "always" (2%) be better off if they were the ones performing the operation. More orthopaedics than non-orthopaedics believed that their speciality was regarded as one of the least important specialities in the world of medicine (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orthopaedic surgeons in general are not more self-confident than other doctors or the average population, but young orthopaedic surgeons have a very high level of confidence in their own operation skills.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
authors.affiliation: peargun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Per Hviid
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gundtoft
authors.forename: Eske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klit
authors.forename: Kristoffer Barfod
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Weisskirchner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003702:Delusions; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D000072161:Orthopedic Surgeons / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires