The Role of Physician Gender in Variation in Breast Cancer Care.
Abstract
Little is known about the influence of physician characteristics on breast cancer care, or the interaction of physician and patient characteristics on this care. The primary aim of the study is to investigate how physician gender influences care for breast cancer patients. Secondly, we wish to examine the independent and joint influences of physician characteristics including geographic region, race, experience, and specialty, and patient characteristics including race, age, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and mobility on breast cancer care. We are conducting a fractional factorial experiment where two medical scenarios are produced for videotape of a woman presenting breast cancer care. Sixteen versions of each videotape maintain the same clinical information while varying only those patient features as part of the experimental design. Pairs of female and male physicians matched on specialty, race, and experience are recruited from three geographic areas to view one version of each videotape and state their management recommendations. Analyses will compare management practices of female and male physicians independent of other physician and patient characteristics, as well as the interactive influence of these factors on patient care. The results of this study will define variation in breast cancer care and can lead to new strategies to target specific qrnups of physicians to improve breast cancer care.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA303203
Entities
People
- Karen M. Freund
Organizations
- Boston Medical Center