A Comparative Study of Satisfaction with Physicians among Patients at Outpatient Departments Affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Student of Medicine, School of Medicine AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Epidemiologist, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Several studies have shown that gender concordance between patient and physician led to a better relationship between them. Moreover, lack of gender concordance may lead to decrease in quality of this relationship, and finally to the lack of contribution of patients in diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. Gender concordance is very important in the several aspects such as medicine, psychology, religion, culture, and society. Lack of concordance can cause different aspects of the disease to remain hidden and dissatisfaction of the patient. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare male and female patients’ satisfaction of physicians.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in general and specialized medical centers of Isfahan, Iran, during 2012-2013. The target population was patients who referred to the above centers. The sample of this study was selected by sequential method from general, specialized, and highly specialized patient centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patient satisfaction was measured by the patient contribution questionnaire Perceived involvement in care scale (PICS). After collection, the data were analyzed by SPSS software and applying of Student t-test and chi-square.Findings: 423 patients were studied, among 231 (54%) of which gender concordance existed. 83% of male and 70% of female patients were referred to male physicians, and there was a statistical difference between males and females in physician gender selection (P < 0.001). Total patients satisfaction is low, but it was higher among patients with gender concordance; no statistical difference was observed between concordance and non-concordance groups (P = 0.26).Conclusion: According to results of this study, gender concordance between patients and physician is not at a suitable level in Isfahan medical centers. In addition, there is not enough contribution between patient and physician. This problem led to a decrease in patient satisfaction and information transferred between doctor and patient. As a result, their diagnosis and treatment encountered some problems. Thus, suitable decisions and programs may be needed for medical staff distribution in different areas and the dissemination of the culture of equality of male and female doctors’ capability. 

Keywords

References

  1. Ahmad F, Gupta H, Rawlins J, Stewart DE. Preferences for gender of family physician among Canadian European-descent and South-Asian immigrant women. Fam Pract 2002; 19(2): 146-53.
  2. Franks P, Bertakis KD. Physician gender, patient gender, and primary care. J Womens Health (Larchmt ) 2003; 12(1): 73-80.
  3. Schnatz PF, Murphy JL, O'Sullivan DM, Sorosky JI. Patient choice: comparing criteria for selecting an obstetrician-gynecologist based on image, gender, and professional attributes. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007; 197(5): 548-7.
  4. Street RL, Jr., O'Malley KJ, Cooper LA, Haidet P. Understanding concordance in patient-physician relationships: personal and ethnic dimensions of shared identity. Ann Fam Med 2008; 6(3): 198-205.
  5. Berrios-Rivera JP, Street RL, Jr., Garcia Popa-Lisseanu MG, Kallen MA, Richardson MN, Janssen NM, et al. Trust in physicians and elements of the medical interaction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 2006; 55(3): 385-93.
  6. Bertakis KD, Franks P, Azari R. Effects of physician gender on patient satisfaction. J Am Med Womens Assoc 2003; 58(2): 69-75.
  7. Bischoff A, Hudelson P, Bovier PA. Doctor-patient gender concordance and patient satisfaction in interpreter-mediated consultations: an exploratory study. J Travel Med 2008; 15(1): 1-5.
  8. Hall JA, Roter DL. Do patients talk differently to male and female physicians? A meta-analytic review. Patient Educ Couns 2002; 48(3): 217-24.
  9. Roter DL, Hall JA. Physician gender and patient-centered communication: a critical review of empirical research. Annu Rev Public Health 2004; 25: 497-519.
  10. Roter DL, Hall JA, Aoki Y. Physician gender effects in medical communication: a meta-analytic review. JAMA 2002; 288(6): 756-64.
  11. Bonds DE, Foley KL, Dugan E, Hall MA, Extrom P. An exploration of patients' trust in physicians in training. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2004; 15(2): 294-306.
  12. Garcia JA, Paterniti DA, Romano PS, Kravitz RL. Patient preferences for physician characteristics in university-based primary care clinics. Ethn Dis 2003; 13(2): 259-67.
  13. Addis ME, Mahalik JR. Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. Am Psychol 2003; 58(1): 5-14.
  14. LaFrance M, Hecht MA, Paluck EL. The contingent smile: a meta-analysis of sex differences in smiling. Psychol Bull 2003; 129(2): 305-34.
  15. Knapp ML, Hall JA. Nonverbal communication in human interaction. 5th ed. New York, NY: Wadsworth; 2001.
  16. Arya N, Masrour D, Karimi A, Kamali P. A field survey was conducted to study kidney transplant patients' satisfaction from education in Tehran. Iran J Nurs 1998; 12(16-17): 5-9. [In Persian].
  17. Torpy JM, Lynm C, Glass RM. JAMA patient page. Men and women are different. JAMA 2003; 289(4): 510.
  18. Sleath B, Rubin RH. Gender, ethnicity, and physician-patient communication about depression and anxiety in primary care. Patient Educ Couns 2002; 48(3): 243-52.
  19. Meeuwesen L, Bensing J, Brink-Muinen A. Communicating fatigue in general practice and the role of gender. Patient Educ Couns 2002; 48(3): 233-42.
  20. Zaharias G, Piterman L, Liddell M. Doctors and patients: gender interaction in the consultation. Acad Med 2004; 79(2): 148-55.
  21. Engleman EG. Attitudes toward women physicians. A study of 500 clinic patients. West J Med 1974; 120(2): 95-100.
  22. Gray PG, Cartwright A. Choosing and changing doctors. Lancet 1953; 265(6799): 1308-9.
  23. Wilder CS. Physician visits: volume and interval since last visit. United States--1969. Vital Health Stat 10 1972; 10(75): 1-58.
  24. Hall JA, Irish JT, Roter DL, Ehrlich CM, Miller LH. Satisfaction, gender, and communication in medical visits. Med Care 1994; 32(12): 1216-31.
  25. Schmittdiel J, Grumbach K, Selby JV, Quesenberry CP, Jr. Effect of physician and patient gender concordance on patient satisfaction and preventive care practices. J Gen Intern Med 2000; 15(11): 761-9.
  26. Weisman CS, Teitelbaum MA. Physician gender and the physician-patient relationship: recent evidence and relevant questions. Soc Sci Med 1985; 20(11): 1119-27.
  27. Brink-Muinen A, Bensing JM, Kerssens JJ. Gender and communication style in general practice. Differences between women's health care and regular health care. Med Care 1998; 36(1): 100-6.
  28. Charon R, Greene MG, Adelman R. Women readers, women doctors: a feminist reader-response theory for medicine. In: More ES, Milligan MA, editors. The empathic practitioner: Empathy, gender, and medicine. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press; 1994. p. 205.
  29. Hall JA, Irish JT, Roter DL, Ehrlich CM, Miller LH. Gender in medical encounters: an analysis of physician and patient communication in a primary care setting. Health Psychol 1994; 13(5): 384-92.
  30. Law SA, Britten N. Factors that influence the patient centredness of a consultation. Br J Gen Pract 1995; 45(399): 520-4.
  31. Roter D, Lipkin M, Jr., Korsgaard A. Sex differences in patients' and physicians' communication during primary care medical visits. Med Care 1991; 29(11): 1083-93.
  32. Shapiro J, Schiermer D. Resident psychological performance: A brief report. FamPract 1990; 8(1): 10-3.
  33. Shapiro J. Patterns of psychosocial performance in the doctor-patient encounter: a study of family practice residents. Soc Sci Med 1990; 31(9): 1035-41.
  34. Delgado A, Lopez-Fernandez LA, Luna JD. Influence of the doctor's gender in the satisfaction of the users. Med Care 1993; 31(9): 795-800.
  35. Bertakis KD, Helms LJ, Callahan EJ, Azari R, Robbins JA. The influence of gender on physician practice style. Med Care 1995; 33(4): 407-16.
  36. Elderkin-Thompson V, Waitzkin H. Differences in clinical communication by gender. J Gen Intern Med 1999; 14(2): 112-21.
  37. Cooper-Patrick L, Gallo JJ, Gonzales JJ, Vu HT, Powe NR, Nelson C, et al. Race, gender, and partnership in the patient-physician relationship. JAMA 1999; 282(6): 583-9.
  38. Linn LS, Cope DW, Leake B. The effect of gender and training of residents on satisfaction ratings by patients. J Med Educ 1984; 59(12): 964-6.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 31, Issue 249 - Serial Number 249
July and August 2013
Pages 1314-1323

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 10 September 2013
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics