Table 2.

Physician Difficulty Rating of Communication Challenges Faced in the Orthopedic Surgery Clinical Setting

Rating [n, (%)]
	1-Not at all challenging	2-Somewhat challenging	3-Challenging	4-Extremely challenging	Lower End [1+2, (%)]	Upper End 3+4, (%)]
Category
A. Identifying patient concerns/agenda	11 (57.9%)	5 (26.3%)	2 (10.5%)	1 (5.3%)	16 (84.2%)	3 (15.8%)
B. Managing patients with multiple concerns	6 (31.6%)	5 (26.3%)	7 (36.8%)	1 (5.3%)	11 (57.9%)	8 (42.1%)
C. Responding to patients who are angry/frustrated	2 (10.5%)	7 (36.8%)	5 (26.3%)	5 (26.3%)	9 (47.4%)	10 (52.6%)
D. Responding to patients who become emotional during the encounter e.g. sadness	5 (26.3%)	7 (36.8%)	5 (26.3%)	2 (10.5%)	12 (63.2%)	7 (36.8%)
E. Efficient time management	3 (15.8%)	7 (37%)	7 (37%)	2 (10.5%)	10 (52.6%)	9 (47%)
F. Adjusting to different levels of health literacy	7 (36.8%)	10 (52.6%)	1 (5.3%)	1 (5.3%)	17 (89.5%)	2 (10.5%)
G. Addressing worker compensation issues	3 (15.8%)	9 (47.4%)	5 (26.3%)	2 (10.5%)	12 (63.2%)	7 (36.8%)
H. Managing pain medication requests for chronic pain complaints	3 (15.8%)	8 (42.1%)	5 (26.3%)	3 (15.8%)	11 (57.9%)	8 (42.1%)
I. Patients who are convinced a surgery is their best option when in reality it is not	0 (0%)	3 (15.8%)	7 (36.8%)	9 (47.4%)	3 (15.8%)	16 (84.2%)
J. Patients with multiple medical comorbidities that are not appropriate surgical candidates	2 (10.5%)	6 (31.6%)	8 (42.1%)	3 (15.8%)	8 (42.1%)	11 (57.9%)
K. Patient whose health behaviors (smoking, diet, etc.) impact their health and surgical eligibility	2 (10.5%)	6 (31.6%)	9 (47.4%)	2 (10.5%)	8 (42.1%)	11 (57.9%)
L. Patient disappointment with surgical outcomes	0 (0%)	6 (31.6%)	11 (58%)	2 (10.5%)	6 (31.6%)	13 (68.4%)
M. Patients with unrealistic expectations for surgical outcomes	1 (5.3%)	4 (21.1%)	10 (52.6%)	4 (21.1%)	5 (26.3%)	14 (73.7%)