A comparative cross-sectional study of personality traits in internists and surgeons

Abstract

Background: A stereotype of surgeons' personality persists in the general public and among health-care professionals. Only a few studies have attempted to describe this "surgical personality" in detail. The aim of this study was to investigate the personality traits of surgeons compared with internists and to prove the existence of a stereotype among health-care professionals concerning surgeons.

Methods: To investigate the existence of a stereotype, nursing staff members in a public tertiary referral 900-bed hospital rated the personality traits of internists and surgeons. Simultaneously, all internists and surgeons in the same hospital were asked to complete the Freiburg Personality Inventory-the most frequently used German self-report form.

Results: Three hundred and thirty-four of 543 (62%) eligible nursing staff members participated; their responses confirmed the existence of a stereotype. A total of 253 of 284 eligible doctors completed the self-report form for a response rate of 89%. Compared with the general population, internists differed in most of 12 personality domains, whereas surgeons differed in 6 of 12 personality traits. The self-assessment revealed a statistically significant excess of achievement orientation (P = .00005) and extraversion (P < .00001) among surgeons and decreased aggressiveness (P = .00012) among internists. No significant difference was found between board-certified surgeons and internists in any of the 12 personality domains.

Conclusion: This study identified a clear discrepancy between the self- and external assessment of personality but only among surgeons. This outcome provides an opportunity for surgeons to reflect on any potential lack of self-awareness and its impact on interdisciplinary patient care.