Perceived gender differences in physician consulting behaviour during internal examination.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate gender-related differences in consulting behaviour among family doctors in Belgium. METHODS: The study was conducted among 32 family physicians and 303 patients. The family physician consulting behaviour was studied during consultations which included either an anal or a vaginal examination on three dimensions: a cure dimension, a care dimension and a dimension of consulting behaviour specific for consultations which included an internal examination. RESULTS: It was found that female family physicians were perceived by both male and female patients as showing more cure behaviour during consultations which included an anal examination. Female family doctors were also perceived as showing significantly more cure behaviour, more care behaviour and more consulting behaviour specific for an internal examination during consultations which included a vaginal examination. Furthermore, it was found that less-well-educated patients perceived more care behaviour during consultations which included an anal examination than did better-educated patients. Finally, less-well-educated patients perceived more cure behaviour and more behaviour specific for an internal examination in their doctor's consulting behaviour during consultations which included a vaginal examination.