The most familiar scoring systems were ASA, APACHE, and ThoraScore; about 70% of respondents were familiar with the first two. Despite this level of familiarity, about half of respondents don’t use the systems routinely. The primary reasons for lack of use include no familiarity with systems, general or patient-specific inaccuracy, and difficulty of calculating a predictive score.
Among those respondents who do use scoring systems, about two-thirds use them sporadically, especially in higher risk patients. The opinion regarding the ability of scoring systems to influence patient selection/management was guarded.
A much smaller number of respondents participated in this survey compared to others, perhaps because of relative disinterest in the topic. The majority of participants were from North America and Europe.
| 1. Which published risk scoring systems are you familiar with, even if you don’t use one routinely (check all that apply)? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 124 | ||
| skipped question |
13
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| ASA |
 |
71.8% | 89 |
| POSSUM |
|
14.5% | 18 |
| Charlson |
|
17.7% | 22 |
| APACHE |
|
69.4% | 86 |
| ETS |
|
9.7% | 12 |
| EVAD |
|
4.0% | 5 |
| Thorascore |
|
25.8% | 32 |
| 2. If you don’t use risk scoring systems at all, what is the primary reason for this? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 124 | ||
| skipped question |
13
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| They are not accurate |
|
11.3% | 14 |
| They don’t apply to individual patients |
|
12.1% | 15 |
| They are too difficult to calculate and apply |
|
17.7% | 22 |
| They are confusing |
|
5.6% | 7 |
| I’m not familiar with such systems |
|
28.2% | 35 |
| I do use these systems |
|
25.0% | 31 |
| 3. If you use risk scoring systems in your practice, what is the primary reason for this? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 126 | ||
| skipped question |
11
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| Helps select patients for surgery |
|
15.9% | 20 |
| Assists with my discussions with patients |
|
16.7% | 21 |
| Helps assign appropriate resources for patient care |
|
7.9% | 10 |
| Curiosity | 0.0% | 0 | |
| I don’t see much benefit, but assess the risk score nevertheless |
|
5.6% | 7 |
| Other |
|
5.6% | 7 |
| I don’t use these systems |
|
48.4% | 61 |
| 4. If you use a risk scoring system as part of your practice, what is your pattern of use? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 124 | ||
| skipped question |
13
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| I use it for every patient |
|
17.7% | 22 |
| I use it for patients that appear to be high risk |
|
28.2% | 35 |
| I use it sporadically |
|
8.9% | 11 |
| I don’t use scoring systems |
|
45.2% | 56 |
| 5. Do you believe the use of risk scoring systems influences your patient selection and/or management? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 134 | ||
| skipped question |
3
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| Definitely |
|
17.2% | 23 |
| Maybe |
|
29.9% | 40 |
| Probably not |
|
11.9% | 16 |
| No |
|
7.5% | 10 |
| I don’t use scoring systems |
|
33.6% | 45 |
| 6. In what region do you practice? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| answered question | 135 | ||
| skipped question |
2
|
||
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
||
| North America |
|
57.0% | 77 |
| Europe |
|
24.4% | 33 |
| Asia |
|
8.9% | 12 |
| Africa |
|
3.0% | 4 |
| Central or South America |
|
4.4% | 6 |
| Australia/New Zealand |
|
2.2% | 3 |
