Scottish Atlas of Variation Surgical Procedures dashboard: Survey insights on the latest Atlas maps

Conclusions

When interpreting this report, please note that the findings apply only to Atlas maps concerning paediatric dental extractions, hip and knee replacements, and cataract surgery. They should not be taken as representative of other Atlas datasets or of the views and experiences of healthcare professionals not involved in this research.

Survey responses revealed that awareness and uptake of the new dashboards remain limited among healthcare professionals in Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology and Dentistry. Many respondents suggested that raising awareness of the Atlas and its purpose could help increase engagement, while providing more up-to-date data and prompts for updates might encourage more frequent use among existing users. A significant proportion of respondents had not completed the associated unwarranted variation training and some reported challenges in interpreting the data included in the Atlas.

Among those who had used the Atlas, most felt somewhat confident in using it. Some found it useful for identifying unwarranted variation and driving improvement in access to care.