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Physician gender differences in general and cancer-specific prevention attitudes and practices

Amelie G Ramirez1, Kimberly A Wildes, Anna Nápoles-Springer

  • 1Institute for Health Promotion Research, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 8207 Callaghan Road, Suite 353, San Antonio, TX 78230, USA. ramirezag@uthscsa.edu

Journal of Cancer Education : the Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Education
|May 12, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Physician gender influences prevention practices. Female physicians more often discuss sensitive health topics, while male physicians emphasize prostate cancer screening effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Public health
  • Physician behavior

Background:

  • Inconsistent findings exist regarding physician gender differences in prevention practices.
  • Differences in cancer-specific attitudes and practices between male and female physicians are not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate associations between physician gender and general prevention practices.
  • To examine physician gender differences in cancer-specific attitudes and practices.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of data from 722 randomly selected physicians.
  • Statistical testing using chi-square and multivariate analyses to assess gender associations.

Main Results:

  • Gender differences were observed in 14% of general and cancer-specific practices and attitudes.
  • Physician gender significantly predicted general prevention practices and cancer-specific attitudes.
  • Female physicians were more likely to discuss physical activity, violence, and substance use; male physicians favored prostate-specific antigen screening beliefs.

Conclusions:

  • Physician gender is linked to specific general and cancer-related prevention services.
  • Female physicians demonstrate a greater tendency to discuss general health prevention, particularly sensitive topics.
  • Findings suggest implications for medical education and future research on physician behavior in preventive care.

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