PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 10943802

Gender differences in gynecologist communication.

A M van Dulmen·J M Bensing
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The intimate nature of gynecological health problems requires the physician's specific attention. On the basis of previous findings in primary care, female gynecologists are expected to communicate more affectively than men. This study addressed gender differences in gynecologist communication behavior by comparing videotapes of real-life outpatient encounters with female (N = 107) and male (N = 196) gynecologists by means of bivariate and multilevel analysis. Only a few gender differences were found: female gynecologists performed longer physical examinations, showed more global attentiveness, and asked fewer medical questions. Either the duration of the medical education or the type of statistical analysis may account for this lack of gender differences.

Explore related subjects

CommunicationFemaleGynecologyHumansMaleNetherlandsPhysical ExaminationPhysician-Patient RelationsPregnancySex CharacteristicsJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A M van Dulmen, J M Bensing. 2000. Gender differences in gynecologist communication.. https://doi.org/10.1300/j013v30n03_04

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Information-sharing among couples considering multifetal pregnancy reduction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the information-sharing strategies of couples considering fetal reduction, and the impact of these strategies on the chances of encountering hostility in their social networks. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design of semistructured qualitative interviews, coded with respect to sharing strategies and level of personally directed hostility encountered. SETTING: Multiple Pregnancy Management Program, Comprehensive Genetics, New York, New York. PATIENT(S) AND INTERVENTION(S): Fifty women and their partners who were making a first visit to our maternal-fetal management facility, in order to consider the possibility of multifetal reduction as a pregnancy-management strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Development of information-sharing strategies, and the chances of encountering personally directed hostility regarding multifetal reduction associated with more and less selective strategies. RESULT(S): Four information-sharing strategies emerged from the analysis. Two of these strategies were relatively open (extended network, and both parents). Two other strategies were relatively selective (qualified family and friends, and defended relationship). The selective strategies were significantly less likely to encounter to encounter personally directed hostility (odds ratio, 3.88; 95% confidence intervals, 0.87-17.30). CONCLUSION(S): Selective sharing of information for couples considering multifetal prgnancy reduction is a potentially useful strategy for moderating potentially stressful relationships in their social networks. Clinics should find a way of integrating the discussion of selective sharing into their clinic's cultural repertoire of patient-support services.

Communication↗