A recent study suggests that receiving treatment from a female physician may lower the risk of death and hospital readmission. According to the study, patients who were treated by female doctors experienced better outcomes compared to those treated by their male counterparts.
In the inpatient setting, researchers have also noted that women experienced an even greater advantage when receiving treatments from female physicians.
A recent study, conducted by the University of Tokyo in Japan, has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study examined over 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
The mortality rate for female patients was found to be 8.42%, while for male patients it was 10.01%. However, when taking into account patient and physician characteristics, as well as hospital-level exposures, the mortality rate decreased for both female and male patients when treated by a female physician.
According to a study, women who were treated by female physicians had a mortality risk of 8.15%, while those treated by male physicians had a slightly higher risk of 8.38%. Interestingly, the difference in mortality risk between female and male physicians was not statistically significant among men.
The readmission rate within 30 days was 15.23% for female patients and 16.71% for male patients. However, when treated by a female physician, both women and men experienced a lower readmission rate after adjustments were made.
Female physicians had a clinically significant difference in readmission rates compared to their male counterparts, with rates of 15.51% and 16.01% respectively. However, among male physicians, the difference in readmission rates was minimal and not statistically significant.
The authors emphasized the importance of ongoing initiatives to enhance gender diversity in the physician workforce. They highlighted the necessity of ensuring that female patients receive exceptional healthcare.
The researchers emphasized the importance of conducting future studies to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the variations in patient outcomes between female and male physicians. Additionally, they highlighted the need to better understand why female patients tend to experience greater benefits from being treated by female physicians compared to male patients.
Dr. Atsushi Miyawaki, the lead author of the study, stated in an email interview with UPI that his motivation for conducting this research stems from his role as a physician scientist. He expressed a keen interest in understanding the gender bias and disadvantages that female patients encounter in the field of medicine, as well as the underlying structural factors contributing to these disparities.
As a senior assistant professor at the University of Tokyo specializing in public health, Miyawaki is particularly interested in the contributions made by female physicians in patient care. What intrigues him even more is the unique perspective he gains as the husband of a female physician.
According to Miyawaki, a general internal medicine practitioner, our society should focus on increasing the number of female physicians. This would provide female patients with the option to choose a female doctor whenever they prefer.
The study also involved other esteemed research institutions, including Harvard Medical School and its teaching affiliates, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Additionally, the University of California at San Francisco, the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles, and the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in Los Angeles were part of this collaborative research effort.
Miyawaki and his collaborators observed in their study that there is a well-documented disparity in health care quality and hospital care outcomes between sexes. It has been found that female patients are less likely to receive intensive care and procedures, more prone to delayed diagnoses, and have more negative patient experiences compared to their male counterparts.
Studies have also indicated that female patients are more prone to having their concerns dismissed or encountering discrimination. Additionally, their pain and cardiovascular symptoms are often underestimated compared to their male counterparts.
The researchers issued a cautionary note stating that the findings may not be applicable to younger populations.
The researchers examined the hospital outcomes of Medicare patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted for medical conditions between 2016 and 2019 and received treatment from hospitalists. The study aimed to determine if there was a difference in the impact of a physician’s gender on hospital outcomes between female and male patients.
Female physicians treated approximately 31.1% of the 458,108 female patients and 30.6% of the 318,819 male patients in the study.
There are various factors that contribute to the significant variation in outcomes between patients who are treated by female physicians compared to their male counterparts. The authors of the study found that male physicians may underestimate the severity of illness in female patients, whereas female physicians tend to provide patient-centered care and effective communication to them.
Female physicians can play a significant role in alleviating embarrassment, discomfort, and societal taboos that women may experience during sensitive examinations and conversations, according to experts.
The study found that there were clinically small differences in length of hospital stay, spending for Part B, proportion of intensive evaluation and management claims, and likelihood of discharge to home for both men and women.
Dr. Michelle Fleshner, the director of patient safety at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo., expressed her excitement about the extensive population-based study that examines gender inequity in both physicians and patients. In an email to UPI, she mentioned that this study is a significant step forward.
According to Fleshner, an assistant professor of medicine who practices as a hospitalist, this study contributes to the increasing amount of research suggesting that patients, particularly women, may experience better clinical outcomes when treated by female physicians.
The observed trend in this study, however, was only modest, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact factors that are causing it.
Fleshner emphasizes the significance of advocating for oneself and family members during medical treatment if the reason behind this trend is the assumption that male physicians may downplay the concerns of female patients.
The study holds particular significance to her as a female physician and patient. She emphasizes that female physicians have been more attentive to her concerns.
Fleshner suggests that while this anecdote may not be universally applicable, many female patients may resonate with it. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying reasons behind such experiences, so that future physicians, regardless of their gender, can learn how to provide compassionate and effective care to their patients.
According to Dr. Michael Barnett, an associate professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, the inclusion of sex diversity in the physician workforce can significantly influence patient outcomes. Especially in practice areas dominated by male physicians, such as various surgical specialties. Dr. Barnett shared his thoughts on this matter via email with UPI.
According to Barnett, it’s not necessary to change your doctor solely based on factors like gender, race, or other traits. However, the level of comfort one may experience with a physician of a similar background can indeed be significant. This could be due to various reasons, such as differences in bias, trust, or other factors.