Does a clinician's sex influence treatment decisions?

Area of Science:

• Dental Medicine
• Health Professions

Background:

• The increasing feminization of health professions necessitates understanding potential gender-based differences in clinical practice.
• This study addresses gender disparities in treatment decision-making for complex dental procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate gender differences in clinicians' treatment preferences and decision-making processes.
• To investigate how sex influences choices in complex periodontal and implant therapy.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire with clinical scenarios on periodontal therapy and implant procedures was distributed to practitioners.
• Data from 340 respondents were analyzed, considering sex, age, location, and specialty.
• Logistic regression was employed to identify factors influencing treatment decisions.

Main Results:

• Fewer women reported performing implant placement, sinus grafting, and periodontal surgery compared to men.
• Female practitioners demonstrated a higher tendency to refer patients to specialists.
• No significant gender differences were found in treatment decisions or general views on implants, tooth maintenance, or reconstructive therapies, except for a preference for regenerative periodontal surgery among women.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians' treatment decisions are largely independent of sex when expertise is comparable.
• Male clinicians were more inclined to perform complex procedures in-house, while female clinicians referred more patients to specialists.