A Qualitative assessment of the impact of handedness among left-handed surgeons in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Among Muslims, the use of the left hand in daily activities is discouraged; many people believe that left-handed physicians lack the competency for surgery. The study aim was to document the experience of left-handed surgeons in Saudi Arabia and the impact of handedness on their training, job performance, collegial relationships, and career progression. This qualitative study included 9 left-handed physicians in various surgical specialties from 4 major hospitals in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed with Qualitative Content Analysis Method. Of the participants, 78% were male and the mean age was 40 years. Twenty-two per cent were consultants, 67% were specialists, and 11% were resident physicians. Participants reported the following: (a) a lack of training programmes specific to handedness in undergraduate and postgraduate medical training, (b) inconvenience while being assisted by a right-handed colleague, (c) stress, fatigue, and physical pain due to the use of right-handed instruments, and (d) training of the right hand being the most common adaptation technique for a left-handed surgeon. It was concluded that left-handed surgeons experience difficulty with right-handed instruments and right-handed colleagues during surgery. It is recommended that clinical curriculum incorporate hand-specific training in surgery.

Keywords: Handedness; Saudi Arabia; left-handed; qualitative study; surgery.