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Second opinions: Do otolaryngologist demographics matter?
Erin M Gawel1, Lauren A DiNardo1, Alexandra F Corbin1
1Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|May 1, 2024
Summary
Physician demographics like race and gender may influence parental decisions regarding pediatric otitis media treatment. Parents are more likely to trust advice from female or Asian otolaryngologists, impacting care choices.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Health
- Medical Decision Making
Background:
- Primary care physicians (PCPs) may not always align with American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) guidelines for pediatric care.
- Discrepancies in advice can lead parents to seek second opinions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how pediatric otolaryngologist demographics influence parental decisions to seek a second opinion.
- To assess if physician characteristics affect adherence to guideline-discordant advice.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to parents in a pediatric otolaryngology clinic (June 2021-July 2023).
- The survey included a scenario on recurrent otitis media and varied otolaryngologist images.
- Parental demographics and likelihood to seek a second opinion were recorded.
Main Results:
- Nearly 40% of parents would seek a second opinion if an otolaryngologist recommended watchful waiting for otitis media.
- Parents were more likely to follow advice from pictured female (OR 1.47) or Asian (OR 1.53) otolaryngologists.
- A control group without a picture was 2.23 times more likely to accept the otolaryngologist's advice.
Conclusions:
- Physician race and gender can influence parental decision-making in pediatric otitis media management.
- Visual representation of otolaryngologists impacts parental trust and adherence to medical advice.
- Understanding these biases is crucial for effective physician-patient communication.
