Background: Early specialty palliative care (SPC) involvement in geriatric trauma care improves outcomes, quality of life and healthcare utilization. However, SPC usage is inconsistent and imprecise. A knowledge gap persists in understanding surgeons perspectives towards SPC and barriers in geriatric trauma. Methods: The 38-question survey was distributed through a prestigious surgical society membership. Subsequently, comparative analysis of responses was completed based on demographic features. Results: 64 surgeons responded (2.8%). 87.5% of respondents identified a potentially life-limiting diagnosis/prognosis and 76.6% conflicting goals of care as consult triggers. 59.4% reported comfort in addressing the palliative needs without SPC consult. The perception of limited SPC availability (54.7%) was a common barrier. 28.1% felt that patient/family resistance was the most common reason not to consult SPC. Conclusions: Surgeons reported comfort with goals of care discussions, perceived limited SPC availability, and the perception of patient/family resistance as limitation to consultation. These data provide previously unexplored insight from trauma surgeons.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding

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Dignity Health St. Josephs Medical Centers Institutional Review Board (IRB# PHXNR-23-500-253-71-47)

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