Opinion Leaders and Evidence-Based Medicine in Craniofacial Surgery

Background: In health care, it is widely known that evidence-based medicine (EBM) has a significant impact on clinical practice, and opinion leaders can enhance the clinician's application of EBM in various disciplines. In this article, we examine the existence and impact of opinion leaders in craniofacial surgery as well as barriers to evidence-based practice. Methods: We compiled the answers of an Internet questionnaire, which was sent to 102 craniofacial surgeons. Results: Our results demonstrate that opinion leaders most definitely can be identified in craniofacial surgery. They are tightly connected to their field's social network and promote EBM. In this survey, 44% of craniofacial surgeons reported that their greatest obstacle to clinical decision making in the management of nonsyndromic synostosis was lack of surgical consensus. In addition, craniofacial surgeons stated that EBM and opinion leaders are the most influential factors that caused them to change their management of craniosynostosis. Conclusions: We expect that the use of opinion leaders can further enhance the uptake of EBM in craniofacial surgery.