Gender inequalities in COPD decision-making in primary care.

BACKGROUND: COPD is a frequent severe illness that increasingly affects females. Gender inequalities have been reported in COPD care. OBJECTIVE: To analyze decision-making in primary care for men and women with identical COPD as a function of the gender of the family physician (FP). METHODS: Cross-sectional, multicenter study in 457 Andalusian FPs, using a self-administered vignette-based questionnaire on COPD featuring a male or female patient, with four variables on clinical reasoning: "tobacco as most important risk factor (RF)", "ordering of spirometry", "COPD as most likely diagnosis", and "referral". Multilevel logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Response rate was 67.4% (308/457). In analysis of the four FP gender-patient gender dyads, tobacco was more frequently considered as priority RF for the man than for the woman in the vignette by female (95.6%vs.67.1%) and male (79.8%vs.62.5%) FPs. COPD was more frequently the most likely diagnosis for the man versus woman by female (84.4%vs.49.9%) and male (78.5%vs.57.8%) FPs. Male FPs more frequently ordered spirometry for the man versus woman (68.1%vs.46.8%). There were no differences in referral between male and female patients. Male FPs were more likely than female FPs to consider tobacco as priority RF for the man (p = 002). Female FPs were more likely than male FPs to refer the man (22.5%vs.8%). CONCLUSIONS: There may be gender inequalities in primary care for COPD in our setting. Diagnostic and therapeutic efforts appear lower in female patients. Male and female FPs only differed in care of the male patient, indicating FP gender-patient gender interaction.

[Referrals and sex of physicians and patients: a gender analysis, Andalussia, Spain]. / Derivaciones en los centros de salud de Andalucía según el sexo de profesionales y pacientes: un análisis de género.

BACKGROUND: It has been identified differences of medical care practice in primary care related to physician's sex. Simultaneously, there are gender inequalities in the assignment of health resources. Both aspects give rise to an increasing growing interest in the management and provision of health services. OBJECTIVES: To examine the differences in the referral practice made by female and male primary care physicians working in health centers in Andalusia, to consider whether there are disparities in referrals received by men and women, and to examine the interaction between patient's sex and physician's sex. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, and multicenter study. POPULATION: 4 health districts in Andalucía and their physicians. SAMPLE: 382 physicians. MEASUREMENTS: referral rate per visit (RV), referral rate per patient quota (RQ), patient's sex, physician: sex, age, postgraduate family medicine specialty, size of the patient quota by sex, mean number of patients/day by sex, mean age of the patient quota by sex, and proportion of men in the quota. Health center: urban / rural, size of the team, enrolled population, and postgraduate family medicine specialty's accreditation. SOURCES: databases of health districts. PERIOD OF STUDY: 2010. ANALYSIS: Bivariate and multivariate multilevel analysis of the referral rate per visit with mixed Poisson model. RESULTS: In 2010 382 physicians made 129,161 referrals to specialized care. The RQ was 23.47 and the RV was 4.92. The RQ in women and men was 27.23 and 19.78 for women physicians, being 27.37 and 19.51 for male physicians. The RV in women and men was 4.92 and 5.48 for women physicians, being 4.54 and 4.93 for male physicians. CONCLUSION: There are no differences in referral according to physician's sex. However, there are signs that might indicate the existence of gender inequality, and women patient received less referrals. There are no physician-patient's sex interaction.

Derivaciones en los centros de salud de Andalucía según el sexo de profesionales y pacientes. Un análisis de género / Referrals and sex of physicians and patients. A gender analysis, Andalussia, Spain

Fundamento: En atención primaria se han identificado diferencias de práctica según sexo del profesional y, simultáneamente, existen des- igualdades de género en la asignación de recursos sanitarios, aspectos ambos que suscitan un interés creciente en la gestión y provisión de servicios de salud. El objetivo del estudio es conocer si existen diferencias de práctica en las derivaciones sanitarias realizadas por médicas y médicos de familia (MF) de centros de salud de Andalucía, si existen desigualdades en las derivaciones recibidas por hombres y mujeres, y si existe inter- acción sexo de profesional sexo de paciente. Métodos: Estudio transversal y multicéntrico. Población: MF de 4 distritos sanitarios (DDSS). Muestra: 382 MF. Variables: tasa de derivaciones por visita (TDxV), tasa de derivaciones por cupo (TDxC), sexo de paciente; sexo, edad, y formación postgraduada en medicina familiar de MF, tamaño del cupo por sexo, media de visitas /paciente por sexo, edad media del cupo por sexo, y proporción de hombres en el cupo; centro de salud urbano/rural, tamaño del equipo, población adscrita y acreditación docente. Fuentes: bases de datos de los DDSS. Análisis estadístico: descriptivo. Bivariante y multivariante mediante análisis multinivel de la TDxV con modelo mixto de Poisson. Resultados: En 2010 los/as 382 MF realizaron 129.161 derivaciones a especialistas. La TDxC fue 23,47 y la TDxV es 4,92. Las TDxC de las médicas fue 27,23 en mujeres y 19,78 en hombres y las de los médicos 27,37 en mujeres y 19,51 en hombres. La TDxV de las médicas fueron 4,92 en mujeres y 5,48 en hombres y para los médicos 4,54 y 4,93 respectivamente. Conclusiones: No existen diferencias en las derivaciones según sexo de las mujeres son menos derivadas. No existe interacción sexo profesional-sexo paciente (AU)

Background: It has been identified differences of medical care practice in primary care related to physician’s sex. Simultaneously, there are gender inequalities in the assignment of health resources. Both aspects give rise to an increasing growing interest in the management and provi- sion of health services. Objectives: To examine the differences in the referral practice made by female and male primary care physicians working in health centers in Andalusia, to consider whether there are disparities in referrals received by men and women, and to examine the interaction bet- ween patient’s sex and physician’s sex. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and multicenter study. Population: 4 health districts in Andalucía and their physicians. Sample: 382 physicians. Measurements: referral rate per visit (RV), referral rate per patient quota (RQ), patient's sex, physician: sex, age, postgraduate family medicine specialty, size of the patient quota by sex, mean number of patients/day by sex, mean age of the patient quota by sex, and proportion of men in the quota. Health center: urban / rural, size of the team, enrolled population, and postgraduate family medicine specialty's accreditation. Sources: databases of health districts. Period of study: 2010. Analysis: Bivariate and multivariate multilevel analysis of the referral rate per visit with mixed Poisson model. Results: In 2010 382 physicians made 129,161 referrals to specialized care. The RQ was 23.47 and the RV was 4.92. The RQ in women and men was 27.23 and 19.78 for women physicians, being 27.37 and 19.51 for male physicians. The RV in women and men was 4.92 and 5.48 for women physicians, being 4.54 and 4.93 for male physicians. Conclusion: There are no differences in referral according to physician´s sex. However, there are signs that might indicate the existence of men patient received less referrals. There are no physician-patient's sex interaction (AU)

Expectativas de los pacientes sobre la toma de decisiones ante diferentes problemas de salud / Patient expectations of decision making for distinct health problems

ObjetivosConocer las expectativas de los pacientes sobre la toma de decisiones ante diferentes problemas de salud cuando consultan con su médico de familia, e identificar las características de los pacientes y del médico relacionadas con dichas expectativas, con especial interés por el sexo de ambos.MétodosEstudio transversal, multicéntrico, con 360 pacientes. Cuestionario en domicilio con características sociodemográficas, clínicas y satisfacción; sexo y formación posgrado del médico de familia; expectativas de que el médico de familia «escuche, informe y tenga en cuenta la opinión del paciente»; y expectativas sobre la «toma de decisiones» al consultar por cinco problemas o escenarios clínicos hipotéticos (dolor fuerte en el pecho, resfriado con fiebre, flujo anormal, depresión o tristeza, problema familiar grave), y escala: a) «Sólo el médico»; b) «El médico teniendo en cuenta mi opinión»; c) «Yo, teniendo en cuenta la opinión del médico»; d) «Sólo yo». Regresión logística para toma de decisiones.ResultadosResponden el 90%. Edad: 47,3±16,5 años, 51% mujeres. Las expectativas del paciente de que su médico de familia le escuche, explique y tenga en cuenta su opinión son más elevadas que las de participar en la toma de decisiones; estas segundas dependen del problema estudiado: para dolor de pecho desea participar el 32%, y para problema familiar el 49%. Las mujeres tienen menos expectativas de participar para depresión y para problema familiar, y quienes tienen una médica esperan participar más para problema familiar y resfriado.ConclusionesLa mayoría de los pacientes desean ser escuchados, informados y tenidos en cuenta por su médico de familia, y en menor medida desean tomar la decisión de forma autónoma, sobre todo para problemas de tipo biomédico(AU)

ObjectivesTo identify patient expectations of clinical decision-making at consultations with their general practitioners for distinct health problems and to determine the patient and general practitioner characteristics related to these expectations, with special focus on gender.MethodsWe performed a multicenter cross-sectional study in 360 patients who were interviewed at home. Data on patients’ sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and satisfaction were gathered. General practitioners supplied information on their gender and postgraduate training in family medicine. A questionnaire was used to collect data on patients’ expectations that their general practitioner «listen, explain, and take account of their opinion and on expectations of clinical decision making» at consultations with their general practitioner for five problems or hypothetical clinical scenarios (strong chest pain/cold with fever/abnormal discharge/depression or sadness/severe family problem). Patients were asked to indicate their preference that decisions on diagnosis and treatment be taken by: a) the general practitioner alone; b) the general practitioner, taking account of the patient's opinion; c) the patient, taking account of the general practitioner's opinion and d) the patient alone. A logistic regression was performed for clinical decision-making.ResultsThe response rate was 90%. The mean age was 47.3±16.5 years and 51% were female. Patients’ expectations that their general practitioner listen, explain and take account of their opinions were higher than their expectations of participating in decision-making, depending on the problem in question: 32% wished to participate in chest pain and 49% in family problems. Women had lower expectations of participating in depression and family problems. Patients with female general practitioners had higher expectations of participating in family problems and colds.(..)(AU)

[Patient expectations about decision-making for various health problems]. / Expectativas de los pacientes sobre la toma de decisiones ante diferentes problemas de salud.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patient expectations of clinical decision-making at consultations with their general practitioners for distinct health problems and to determine the patient and general practitioner characteristics related to these expectations, with special focus on gender. METHODS: We performed a multicenter cross-sectional study in 360 patients who were interviewed at home. Data on patients' sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and satisfaction were gathered. General practitioners supplied information on their gender and postgraduate training in family medicine. A questionnaire was used to collect data on patients' expectations that their general practitioner <> at consultations with their general practitioner for five problems or hypothetical clinical scenarios (strong chest pain/cold with fever/abnormal discharge/depression or sadness/severe family problem). Patients were asked to indicate their preference that decisions on diagnosis and treatment be taken by: a) the general practitioner alone; b) the general practitioner, taking account of the patient's opinion; c) the patient, taking account of the general practitioner's opinion and d) the patient alone. A logistic regression was performed for clinical decision-making. RESULTS: The response rate was 90%. The mean age was 47.3 + or - 16.5 years and 51% were female. Patients' expectations that their general practitioner listen, explain and take account of their opinions were higher than their expectations of participating in decision-making, depending on the problem in question: 32% wished to participate in chest pain and 49% in family problems. Women had lower expectations of participating in depression and family problems. Patients with female general practitioners had higher expectations of participating in family problems and colds. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients wished to be listened to, informed and taken into account by their general practitioners and, to a lesser extent, wished to take decisions autonomously, especially for biomedical problems.