Patients’ preferences regarding physicians’ gender

a clinical center cross-sectional study

Autores

Palavras-chave:

Patients, Physicians, Cross-sectional studies, Sexism

Resumo

BACKGROUND: Even with the significant growth of female representation within medicine, inequality and prejudice against this group persist. OBJECTIVE: To analyze patients’ preferences regarding the gender of physicians in general and according to different specialties, and the possible reasons behind their choice. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at the Clinical Center of the University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: Over a three-month period in 2020, 1,016 patients were asked to complete a paper-based 11-item questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority (81.7%; n = 830) of the patients did not have a preference regarding the gender of physicians in general. The preference rate for same-gender physicians was 14.0% (n = 142/1,016), and this preference was more common among female than among male patients (17.6% versus 7.0%; odds ratio, OR = 2.85; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.80-4.52; P < 0.001). When asked about their preference for the gender of the specialist who they were waiting to see, the overall preference rate for a same-gender professional was 17.2% (n = 175). Preference for same-gender specialists was higher for specialties essentially based on pelvic or breast examination (i.e. gynecology, urology, proctology and mastology), compared with others (33.4% versus 9.7%; OR = 4.69; 95% CI = 3.33-6.61; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The patients’ model for choice of their physician does not seem to involve physicians’ gender in general or in the majority of medical specialties. The data presented in this study may make it easier to understand patients’ preferences and concerns.

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Biografia do Autor

Carolina Matté Dagostini, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Yan De Assunção Bicca, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Miguel Bertelli Ramos, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Sabrina Busnello, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Murillo Cesar Gionedis, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil. VUndergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6482-352

Natália Contini, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Undergraduate Medical Student, Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Asdrubal Falavigna, Universidade de Caxias do Sul

MD, MSc, PhD. Coordinator, Health Sciences Undergraduate Program, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul (RS), Brazil.

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Publicado

2022-06-01

Como Citar

1.
Dagostini CM, Bicca YDA, Ramos MB, Busnello S, Gionedis MC, Contini N, Falavigna A. Patients’ preferences regarding physicians’ gender: a clinical center cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 1º de junho de 2022 [citado 14º de março de 2025];140(1):1-10. Disponível em: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/679

Edição

v. 140 n. 1 (2022)

Seção

Artigo Original

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Creative Commons License
Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.