The Physician-Patient as an Informed Consumer of Surgical Services

Abstract The alleged overuse of surgical services in this country is often attributed to lack of consumer knowledge. Assuming that physicians possess such knowledge, we have examined their utilization of surgical services and compared It with that of lawyers, ministers, and businessmen. Operation rates for physicians and their spouses were found to be as high as or higher than rates for the other groups. Overall operation rates for physicians and for the other professional groups studied were estimated to be 25 to 30 per cent higher than for the country as a whole. We conclude that the physician-patient as an informed consumer places a high value on surgical care. The results presented suggest that as the public becomes more fully informed, the demand for surgical services will increase. (N Engl J Med 290:1051–1055, 1974)