This new study reinforces similar findings of a Harvard study in 2016 which found Medicare patients treated by female physicians were less likely to die or to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.
Other studies have found meaningful differences in how men & women practice medicine. Women physicians listen to patients 4-6x longer without interrupting than male physicians and spend an average of 2+ minutes (or 10%) longer with a patient during each office visit.
I suspect it’s the listening that makes the difference - not the gender. My med school lad says it’s being drilled in to his class to listen, listen, listen. Time will tell how many actually put it into practice when their time comes or continue to do it after a few years on the job and getting jaded into thinking they don’t need to anymore because they’ve already seen it all and therefore know it all without words being said.
For my sole data point, I just met with what I consider a fantastic doctor - cardiologist - this past Tuesday. He’s male, but what impressed me about him (and causes me to trust him) is that he took oodles of time, listened, repeated things in his own words allowing me to modify what I said, and explained his thoughts.
Having seen a fair number of doctors of both genders over the past 5 years (from brain tumor on), that rare and most really don’t get what I’m trying to say - as is evidenced by the tests they order (once I come home to look them up or ask about them) and their conclusions - fair from those tests, but the tests aren’t what was needed. When I suggest things (based upon what I’ve looked up or asked about), most instantly dismiss my thoughts as if I’m a preschool kid. This guy is able to talk as if we’re peers with my having more knowledge about what’s going on and him having more knowledge on possibilities for causes. It’s far more of a team.
The only other doctor who was as “good” was the first eye doctor I saw en route to finding the brain tumor. Interestingly enough, it sure didn’t take him long to figure out it was a tumor. Another doctor I saw actually told me he didn’t see where I had any vision issues at all. Ok then. I guess I don’t know what I’m seeing after all! I must be really dumb… just go home because it’s all stress/hormones or being out of shape (the only things women ever get).
Listening is certainly part of the reason, but if you read the Harvard study, you’ll see that women physicians are also more likely to follow evidence-based medical treatment recommendations than their male counterparts.
But based on what both of my doctor daughters have told me, if I ever think I’m having a heart attack, I want a female physician in the ER/cardiac emergency center. The heart attack symptoms in women are more generalized/vague in women than they are in men and are all too often dismissed as “just stress” by male physicians. (Plus I’ll put D1 on the phone–who will scorch their ears if they don’t do a EKG.)
That’s an over-generalization, and it doesn’t even address specialty. You’re comparing apples to Snickers bars. If it’s a hospital ER doctor, they’re going to be swamped with patients, and nurses are going to do most the work. If it’s an OBGYN, they’re going to spend more time with patients.
A good doctor is a good doctor, regardless of gender. And making good MDs is why “doctoring” programs are important today. Not foolproof, but emphasized.
@lookingforward I agree. With the exception of preferring a female OB/GYN, I have no plans to purposely select a doctor by gender (or race). I am, however, starting to pay more attention to specifics stated in reviews whether in person or online. I found this last guy due to a personal recommendation and he gets terrific reviews online. The couple of bad reviews talk about having to wait or his having to take a cell phone call during the appt (presumably an emergency). I don’t care a hoot about those things, so specifics matter more than stars rated.
I know my own lad is going to make a great doctor. He would have if he were a she too. It’s just the way he is - very, very good at working with people as well as figuring out puzzles of all sorts. Everyone around us who knows him has asked to be put on his waiting list for years down the road when he’s done with school. They hope he returns home. (I’ve no idea if he will.) They don’t even care what specialty he chooses… it’s close enough.
There are studies that show in the OR, when the surgeon and the supporting staff are of different gender, there are fewer medical errors and better outcomes.
A person’s trait is who they are, albeit woman or man. I just realized that all my doctors have been male. I didn’t even make any particular effort. It’s just the connection.