HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE IF THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN IS A WOMAN

 A study involving more than 170,000 patients hospitalized in 7 different facilities in Toronto, Canada found that patients whose lead physician was female had a significantly higher survival rate than patients attended by male physicians. Overall 48 out of every 1000 of patients attended by female physicians died in hospital within 30 days compared to 52 out of every 1000 treated by male physicians--almost 8 percent fewer deaths. 

                                                                        Credit: DMCA

The results of this large Canadian study are very similar to those of an earlier study of hospitalized Medicare patients in the US, which also found a comparable and significant difference in survival rates between patients treated by female compared to male doctors. You can read my earlier post about this here.

In the Canadian study, the difference in outcomes between inpatients of male and female physicians did not depend on the sex, age, severity of illness, or other characteristics of the patients.

There were several differences that may have contributed to female physicians' better patient outcomes. In particular, they ordered more studies, including CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds. Previous research has shown that female physicians are more likely to review patient records, consult with colleagues and make referrals, spend more time listening to and talking with patients, show more empathic concern and take complaints and symptoms more seriously, all of which may contribute to better patient outcomes.

Still, before concluding that women are simply better doctors than men, another variable turned out to be equally significant in the Canadian study--the number of years of experience doctors had. Contrary to what one might think, this and other studies have shown that physician years of experience and patient outcome are negatively correlated, that is more years of experience correlates with more rather than fewer patient deaths. 

"Some [studies] suggest that physicians closer to their residency training are more up to date on clinical guidelines and are more likely to follow evidence-based practice, which may improve patient outcomes," the authors explain.

In the Canadian cohort of physicians, the female clinicians had on average 4.3 years of experience vs. 7.4 years for their male colleagues. This age difference proved to be as predictive of patient outcomes as physician gender.

So what's the bottom line? The authors of the Canadian study point out that they do not want to ". . . perpetuate gender stereotypes." So instead of looking for doctors who are female, perhaps we should instead look for doctors who are young, up-to-date in their clinical knowledge, empathic, good listeners and communicators, who take our issues seriously, and are willing to order appropriate tests, consult other doctors and refer when needed. 

You can be your own judge of whether you're more likely to find these qualities in a male or a female physician. 

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REA 7/17/21