ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physician sex preference of male adolescents and to explore the factors that may moderate this preference. DESIGN: Anonymous survey. SETTING: An adolescent clinic associated with a large pediatric hospital centrally located within a metropolitan Midwestern city. PARTICIPANTS: The 67 male adolescent patients in the convenience sample ranged in age from 10 to 18 years, and 43.3% were African American, 40.3% were white, and 16.4% were classified as "other." More than half of the subjects reported being raised by a single mother with just enough money to meet their basic needs. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Among the variables investigated were expressed physician sex preference and participant connectedness to a male and/or female parent or role model. RESULTS: More subjects reported a preference for a female physician (50.8%) than for a male physician (39.4%) when the examination was a physical or medical checkup. The preference for a female physician during a genital examination was also higher (49.2%) than preference for a male physician (39.1%). Analysis of variance revealed significant ethnic group differences in physician sex preference (F2,64 = 12.02, P<.001). African American males had a significantly higher preference for a female physician than did whites or those who identified themselves as other. Neither socioeconomic status nor age demonstrated a statistically significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary investigation has provided evidence that ethnicity of the adolescent and the sex of the examining physician may contribute significantly to the success of the health care interaction.
Subject(s)
Patient Satisfaction/ethnology , Physical Examination , Sex Factors , Adolescent , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Genitalia, Male , Humans , Male , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology , Physicians , Physicians, Women , Single-Parent Family , Socioeconomic Factors , White People/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively ascertain behaviors and activities that may constitute high risk during the adolescent years (ages 12-18) of young adults (ages 20-25) who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: Subjects (n = 44) from 1 of 5 clinics in a large midwestern city completed a survey form, developed by the investigators, which examined 6 areas of behavior and activities that the literature suggested may be associated with high-risk behaviors. RESULTS: The adolescent high-risk profile of an HIV-infected young man includes sexual abuse before the age of 12 years, heavy consumption of alcohol, heavy consumption of a variety of illicit drugs, a wide variety of sexual experiences at very young ages, and multiple sexual partners. The adolescent high-risk profile of an HIV-infected young woman in this study includes heavy consumption of alcohol, heavy consumption of a variety of illicit drugs, and unprotected vaginal intercourse at very young ages as evidenced by a high number of sexually transmitted diseases at very young ages. DISCUSSION: Although the small number of participants in this study restricts interpretation of the results, adolescent health initiatives should be examined in light of these findings. Programs and services must consider the context of psychosocial situations, as well as past experiences, and incorporate this knowledge into prevention strategies.
