Diagnostic labels for rotator cuff disease can increase people’s perceived need for shoulder surgery: An online randomized controlled trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether different labels for rotator cuff disease influence people’s perceived need for surgery. U DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment. U METHODS: Participants with and without shoulder pain read a vignette describing a patient with rotator cuff disease and were randomized to 1 of 6 terms describing rotator cuff disease: subacromial impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, bursitis, rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, shoulder sprain, and episode of shoulder pain. Perceived need for shoulder surgery was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included perceived need for imaging, an injection, a second opinion, and to see a specialist; perceived seriousness of the condition; recovery expectations; and perceived impact on work attendance. Using a Bonferroni correction (significance, P