The Value of Surveys in Pediatric Surgery

Abstract

Surveys are an important research tool to evaluate the practice patterns of physicians. In the medical literature, practice surveys are increasingly used in specialties, such as pediatric surgery, characterized by the lack of sufficient evidence-based literature due to the rarity of the conditions treated. To maintain a level that yields to a meaningful scientific contribution the design, data collection and analysis of the survey have to be rigorous. Herein, we describe the general principles of survey methodology, we report the benefits and limitations of this statistical method, and we discuss the value of surveys in pediatric surgery.

Keywords

survey - questionnaire - methodology - evidence based

• References

• 1 Kelley K, Clark B, Brown V, Sitzia J. Good practice in the conduct and reporting of survey research. Int J Qual Health Care 2003; 15 (3) 261-266
• 2 Goldin AB, LaRiviere C, Arca MJ , et al; 2010 APSA Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee. Guidelines for surveys of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. J Pediatr Surg 2011; 46 (10) 2012-2017
• 3 Fowler Jr FJ, Cosenza C. Writing effective survey questions. In: De Leeuw Edith D, Hox Joop J, Dillman Don A, eds. The International Handbook of Survey Methodology. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 2008: 136-160
• 4 Leece P, Bhandari M, Sprague S , et al. Internet versus mailed questionnaires: a controlled comparison (2). J Med Internet Res 2004; 6 (4) e39
• 5 Sawyer A, Rabe H, Abbott J, Gyte G, Duley L, Ayers S ; Very Preterm Birth Collaborative Group. Measuring parents' experiences and satisfaction with care during very preterm birth: a questionnaire development study. BJOG 2014; 121 (10) 1294-1301
• 6 Borg HC, Holmdahl G, Gustavsson K, Doroszkiewicz M, Sillén U. Longitudinal study of bowel function in children with anorectal malformations. J Pediatr Surg 2013; 48 (3) 597-606
• 7 Zani-Ruttenstock E, Zani A, Bullman E, Lapidus-Krol E, Pierro A. Are paediatric operations evidence based? A prospective analysis of general surgery practice in a teaching paediatric hospital. Pediatr Surg Int 2015; 31 (1) 53-59
• 8 Shawyer AC, Pemberton J, Flageole H. Post-operative management of esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula and gastroesophageal reflux: a Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons annual meeting survey. J Pediatr Surg 2014; 49 (5) 716-719
• 9 Zani A, Eaton S, Hoellwarth M , et al. Management of pediatric inguinal hernias in the era of laparoscopy: results of an international survey. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2014; 24 (1) 9-13
• 10 Zani A, Eaton S, Hoellwarth ME , et al. International survey on the management of esophageal atresia. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2014; 24 (1) 3-8
• 11 Zani A, Eaton S, Puri P , et al; EUPSA Network. International survey on the management of necrotizing enterocolitis. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2015; 25 (1) 27-33
• 12 Wiener ES, Touloukian RJ, Rodgers BM , et al. Hernia survey of the Section on Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics. J Pediatr Surg 1996; 31 (8) 1166-1169
• 13 Antonoff MB, Kreykes NS, Saltzman DA, Acton RD. American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery hernia survey revisited. J Pediatr Surg 2005; 40 (6) 1009-1014