Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Characteristics Associated With Physician Bias in Contraceptive Recommendations
Natalie DiCenzo1, Kristyn Brandi2, Kylie Getz3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Objective:
We aimed to examine associations between obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) contraceptive recommendations and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and recommending physicians.
Methods:
OBGYNs affiliated with residency programs across the United States were recruited via email to participate in an online exploratory survey depicting scenarios of reproductive-age women of differing race and socioeconomic status, all other factors identical, and were asked to provide contraceptive recommendations. The χ2 test, Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze recommendation differences based on physician and patient characteristics.
Results:
Of 172 physician respondents, large proportions self-identified as white (74%) and attending physicians (56%) from the Mid-Atlantic (42%). In multivariate logistic regression, self-administered methods (odds ratio [OR], 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.8) and condoms (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9) were recommended significantly less to Black high SES patients compared with white high SES patients. Non-white physicians recommended tubal ligation (OR, 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-0.9) significantly less than white physicians, and recommended long-acting reversible contraception (OR, 3.3, CI 2.2-5.2) and condoms (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) significantly more. Trainee physicians recommended self-administered methods (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), condoms (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.2-0.3), and tubal ligation (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6) significantly less than attending physicians.
Conclusions:
OBGYN contraceptive recommendations differed based on patients' perceived race and SES. Recommendations also differed based on race, training level, and geographic location of the recommending physician. Results suggest that physician bias contributes to contraceptive recommendations. OBGYNs should receive education about contraceptive coercion and patient-centered decision-making so that they provide high-quality counseling to all patients.
More Related Videos
12:34Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
05:32Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection
Published on: September 21, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:22Ethics and Bioethics
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:22Bias
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...