The effects of gender upon doctor-patient interaction

Abstract

Despite extensive research examining doctor-patient communication, relatively link attention has been directed to the impact of gender differences (Weisman and Teitelbaum, 1985). The present study examines the effect of doctor and patient gender on interaction. The consultations of 102 patients (47 male and 55 female) and 15 doctors (8 male and 7 female) were taped and then analysed using a modification of a method developed by Butler and Cox (1992). Measures were also taken of doctor and patient word count, the proportion of doctor dialogue relative to the patient and frequency of interaction exchange. Female patients initiated significantly more agendas than male patients (p >0.001). Those men who raised emotional agendas were more likely to reintroduce these agendas than female patients (p>0.01). particularly in the presence of female doctors (p0.001). Consultations with female patients revealed higher overall (p>0.01) and patient (P>0.01) word count than those with male patients. A positive effect of “gender congruence” upon word count was observed with female doctors only (p0.001).