Job satisfaction and practice characteristics of shoulder and elbow surgeons: a survey of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society members

Karch M Smith; Peter N Chalmers; Grant E Garrigues; William N Levine; Scott P Steinmann; Christopher S Klifto

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2023.10.028

Job satisfaction and practice characteristics of shoulder and elbow surgeons: a survey of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society members

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2023 Dec 16:S1058-2746(23)00855-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2023.10.028. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Karch M Smith¹, Peter N Chalmers², Grant E Garrigues³, William N Levine⁴, Scott P Steinmann⁵, Christopher S Klifto⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: smithkarch@gmail.com.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
³ Upper Extremity Research, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
⁵ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
⁶ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

PMID: 38104719
DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2023.10.028

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the current trends in fellowship training, career satisfaction, practice characteristics, and surgical case volume among shoulder and elbow surgeons.

Methods: A web-based, anonymous 25-item survey was sent to the membership of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) in October of 2022. Questions posed included respondent demographics, fellowship training, career satisfaction, practice characteristics, and surgical case characteristics. Descriptive statistics were performed to report demographic information, assess job and training satisfaction rates, and evaluate practice characteristics. Chi-squared and independent samples t-tests were performed to analyze satisfaction rates, job applications, and surgical case volume with regard to years in practice and practice setting.

Results: Twenty percent (243/1248) of ASES members satisfactorily completed the survey. Of the 243 ASES member respondents, 97% (236/243) stated that they would pursue their fellowship training again. Ninety-eight percent (239/243) of respondents were satisfied with their specialty choice. One-hundred percent (242/243) were satisfied with their training in shoulder. Seventy-two percent (176/243) were satisfied with their training in elbow. Seventy-four percent (179/243) were satisfied with their job availability and 85% (207/243) were satisfied with their job location. The mean total number of orthopedic surgical cases per year was 393 ± 171. The mean total number of shoulder cases per year was 253 ± 149. The mean total number of elbow cases per year was 41 ± 41. Physicians who have been in practice for 11 years or more were comparatively more satisfied (90% vs. 80%) with their job location (P value = .008) and job availability (81% vs. 64%, P value < .001). Additionally, senior surgeons completed more orthopedic (431 vs. 347, P value < .001) and shoulder (279 vs. 220, P value = .002) cases annually than surgeons earlier in their careers. Satisfaction rates, job applications, and surgical case volume did not associate with practice setting.

Conclusions: The majority of ASES member shoulder and elbow surgeons are satisfied with their training, their case volume and complexity, and their specialty choice. Fewer surgeons are satisfied with their elbow training and overall elbow case volume remains low among shoulder and elbow surgeons. Shoulder and elbow surgeons earlier in their careers perform fewer surgical cases, are less satisfied with their job availability and location, and completed more job applications for their first job after fellowship when compared to more senior surgeons.

Keywords: ASES; case volume; elbow; fellowship training; job satisfaction; shoulder.