Recent research has revealed that patients under the care of female physicians tend to experience improved health outcomes, particularly female patients. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine, examined data from 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and above who were hospitalized between 2016 and 2019.
According to the findings, the mortality rate for female patients treated by female physicians was 8.15%, compared to 8.38% for those treated by male physicians. Notably, male patients also experienced lower mortality rates under the care of female physicians, but the difference was less pronounced.
Explanations for these findings have been proposed by experts in the field. Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, suggests that female physicians often possess higher empathy quotients, which can directly impact patient care, diagnosis, and treatment. He also notes that a historical bias in medicine may have led to the undervaluation of women’s health concerns, which female physicians may be more sensitive to.
Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, emphasizes the clinical significance of these findings, highlighting that the observed difference translates to an estimated 1,053 fewer deaths among female patients. She also points out that previous studies have indicated that male physicians may underestimate pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and heart symptoms when experienced by women.
The researchers themselves acknowledge that more research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed differences in outcomes between female and male physicians. Nevertheless, they believe that increasing the number of female physicians could positively impact women’s health overall.
While the study focused on older patients admitted to hospitals, the researchers emphasize that patient-physician interactions, rather than physician gender alone, are crucial for patient outcomes. They encourage individuals to consider the overall doctor-patient relationship and prioritize factors such as clinical experience, training, and communication style when selecting a physician.
