People are less likely to die if treated by a female doctor —Study

PATIENTS treated by female doctors are less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital for medical and anaesthesia care, a study published in the BMC Health Services Research found.

The study investigated the impact of physician sex on patient outcomes, focusing on whether patients treated by female physicians have better outcomes and lower costs compared to those treated by male physicians.

The researchers reported that the likelihood of the patient dying was significantly lower among patients of female physicians compared with male physicians, which remained consistent among surgeon and non-surgeon physicians.

They added that women treated by female physicians may also experience better outcomes than those treated by male physicians.

They attribute these findings to several factors, including the fact that, in comparison to male physicians, female physicians are more likely to follow clinical guidelines and provide evidence-based care, make risk-averse decisions that could affect the choice of patients for surgery, and have better communication skills and a greater willingness to collaborate with the interprofessional team.

The review, however, declared that further work is necessary to examine these effects in other care contexts across different countries and understand underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes to optimize health outcomes for all patients.

Some prior studies have found that patients treated by female physicians may experience better outcomes and lower healthcare costs than those treated by male physicians. Factors such as patient demographics, disease type, and healthcare settings may mediate these effects, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.

Experts say male physicians should consider the study’s findings and reflect on how they might improve their practice.

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