The Role of Physician Gender in Variation in Breast Cancer Care
Abstract
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 geographic location, race, experience, and specialty, and patient race, age, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and mobility on breast cancer care. We conducted 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. Our primary finding is that there are few differences in clinical care recommendations made by female or male physicians. We did find major variability in physician decision making based on physician specialty, geographic location, and based upon patient age. Patient race, economic status, comorbidity or mobility had little effect on physician decision making.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA374248
Entities
People
- Karen M. Freund
Organizations
- Boston Medical Center