As further proof that Americans need to be enlightened on how to access effective healthcare, a new survey from the American Medical Association finds far too many patients don't know which providers have physician credentials, and which do not.
For example, asked whether an orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedist is a medical doctor, 12% said no. One-third of respondents said they do not think otolaryngologists are medical doctors.
The AMA's "Truth in Advertising Survey" survey also found that 83% of those surveyed want a physician to have primary responsibility for their healthcare and 90% believe that a physician's additional years of medical education and training (compared to those of a nurse practitioner) are vital to optimal patient care, especially in the event of a complication or emergency.
However, many of them can't accurately identify which providers are physicians and which aren't.
The AMA telephone survey asked 850 randomly selected people for their responses last November. The AMA said it was releasing the survey now in part to bolster support for proposed federal legislation that would require all healthcare providers who advertise their services to clearly designate their qualifications. The Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2011 was introduced Tuesday by U.S. Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Rep. David Scott (D-GA).
"Although 90% of those surveyed said that a medical doctor's additional years of education and training are vital to optimal patient care, the survey found much confusion about the qualifications of healthcare professionals," said AMA board member Rebecca Patchin, MD.
"A physician-led team approach to care with each member of the healthcare team playing the role they are educated and trained to play is key to ensuring patients receive high quality care, and most Americans agree," Patchin said.
Several states, including California, Arizona and Illinois, are now enacting legislation that would prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising by healthcare professionals.
For example, California's new law, a physician may not use the term "board certified" in any advertising unless the full name of the certifying board is also used and given comparable prominence with the term "board certified" in the statement.
The issue arose after a number of physicians and other practitioners were discovered to have been using the term board certified to advertise surgical practices such as cosmetic procedures when they were not board certified in surgery.
Among the survey's other findings:
• Only 75% of patients think that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, with 21% saying no and 4% unsure. However, 41% believe that a psychologist is an M.D.
• 26% of survey respondents think a nurse practitioner is a medical doctor and 19% believe that a physical therapist has physician training and credentials.
• 16% of respondents said that an ophthalmologist is not a medical doctor and 13% said they were not sure.
• 54% of respondents think an optometrist is a medical doctor, while 6% are unsure.
• 68% of respondents said they think podiatrists are medical doctors and 11% said they were unsure.
• 78% replied "yes" when asked if anesthesiologists are medical doctors, while 19% said no and 3% were unsure.
• 69% of respondents said that they thought dentists are medical doctors.
• 31% said they believe chiropractors are medical doctors, and 6% said they were not sure.
The survey results also indicate that in the two years between these AMA surveys, the public's accurate distinction between those who have undergone medical doctor education and training and those who have not improved slightly. But in one case, the accuracy of responses worsened.
In 2008, 94% of respondents correctly knew that an orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedist is a medical doctor, but in 2010, only 84% answered that question correctly.
The AMA's survey found that 11% do not think that only medical doctors should be able to perform facial surgery such as face lifts and nose shaping and 30% do not think that only medical doctors should be able to administer and monitor anesthesia levels and patient conditions before and after surgery.
Nearly one-third also said they believe providers other than medical doctors should be able to commit individuals for psychiatric care against their will.
The survey also revealed that those sampled overwhelmingly believe that only licensed medical doctors should be able to use the title "physician," (93%), and support legislation in their states to require advertising materials clearly designate the provider's level of skill, education and training, (87%).
But only half said they find it is easy to identify who is a licensed M.D. and who is not by reading what services they offer in their advertising or marketing materials.