Chicago Fanatics Message Board
https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/

Is this a sexist study?
https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=104113		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  leashyourkids [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Is this a sexist study?
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/22/opinions/ ... index.html

Have a female doctor? You could live longer

"Did we really need a study to tell us this?"

That was what one of my colleagues said on Facebook the day this study, from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, was published saying that male and female physicians have different patient outcomes. Researchers analyzed data from over 1 million patients to see if 30-day mortality and hospital readmission rates differed between patients treated by male and female internal medicine physicians. The conclusion? Patients treated by female physicians had lower mortality and lower hospital readmission rates than patients treated by male physicians.

"Damn straight!" cheered others of my fellow female physicians from far and wide.

Not only does this study have potentially wide-reaching health implications, but it might also help push the needle for gender equality in medicine further. As a female family physician, I must admit that I felt empowered after reading the study. It felt good to see a study that recognized the work and efforts of female physicians and it makes me proud to see that female doctors provide great care. While this study argues that women make outstanding physicians (perhaps with better patient outcomes), it must also be said that men make outstanding physicians, too. Male and female physicians work together, and as the saying goes, "it takes a village."

Study researchers acknowledged that "literature has shown that female doctors may be more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines, provide preventive care more often, use more patient-centered communication, perform as well or better on standardized examinations, and provide more psychosocial counseling to their patients than do their male peers." Given these characteristics, some might have assumed the very outcome that the study demonstrated, that female physicians may have healthier outcomes for patients than male physicians.

Surprising or not, this study and its findings are absolutely a big deal not only for women, but for our system of health care as well. Over the years, the number of women in medicine has increased; according the Association of American Medical Colleges, women made up 47.5% of medical school graduates in 2013-2014. However, despite the fact that women make up almost 50% of medical school graduates, gender disparities in salary and rank and promotions persist. Furthermore, researchers estimated approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die "if male physicians could achieve the same outcomes as female physicians every year."

The study does have some significant limitations, including the fact that the sample size was limited to only those who were hospitalized and 65 years or older. Would the outcome have been the same if the age demographic were broadened or if nonhospitalized patients were included? I wonder if this might be the case. However, the study researcher, Dr. Ashish Jha, said in a recent interview that he felt "very confident that if he had looked at younger patients the results would be very similar."

The same question could be asked for the type of physician studied, as the study involved only internal medicine physicians. What would the findings have been if family physicians, pediatricians or other specialists were evaluated

Fundamentally the main question the study was not able to answer is the one you're probably asking yourself: Why did female physicians have better outcomes than their male counterparts? Is it because women tend to follow evidence-based guidelines and provide more psychosocial counseling to patients, as research has suggested? Is it that women are better communicators or are more caring or nurturing by nature? I suspect the answer is some combination of "all of the above," but we will need more research to find out.

While this study may have some female doctors high-fiving each other, I know that won't be true for others. As one female physician told me, despite the study results she doesn't think gender matters in the ability to provide quality medical care.

Regardless, I believe this is an important study that has the potential to benefit many. It's clear we need more research, and our first order of business is to explore how this study and others will allow us, whatever our gender, to provide better quality health care to patients.
Author:  FavreFan [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
No. Facts can't be sexist.
Author:  Brick [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Sorry white men. You're finished.
Author:  leashyourkids [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
FavreFan wrote:
No. Facts can't be sexist.


I agree.
Author:  FavreFan [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
leashyourkids wrote:
FavreFan wrote:
No. Facts can't be sexist.


I agree.

Good talk
Author:  leashyourkids [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
FavreFan wrote:
leashyourkids wrote:
FavreFan wrote:
No. Facts can't be sexist.


I agree.

Good talk


Yep
Author:  good dolphin [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
I don't feel as gay when I get a boner from a female doctor's prostate exam
Author:  Bagels [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
good dolphin wrote:
I don't feel as gay when I get a boner from a female doctor's prostate exam


did you find her on Craigslist ?
Author:  Rod [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
I don't want a female doctor. Or an Indian. If that makes me sexist or racist, I don't give a fuck. I'm the customer. I have to feel comfortable with the person who is grabbing my balls. My doctor, a Polish dude named Walt Bajgrowicz just retired. It sucks. It's hard to find a guy with whom I feel comfortable.
Author:  GoldenJet [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
I would absolutely let a hot, female Indian doc cup my balls or check my prostate.
Author:  Rod [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
GoldenJet wrote:
I would absolutely let a hot, female Indian doc cup my balls or check my prostate.


So would I, but not in a professional capacity.
Author:  Don Tiny [ Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
good dolphin wrote:
I don't feel as gay when I get a boner from a female doctor's prostate exam

I'm sorry for your loss.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Quote:
Have a female doctor? You could live longer

And if you have a female driver, you might live a significantly shorter life.
Author:  newper [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
My doctor, a Polish dude named Walt Bajgrowicz just retired.

1964 Andrean HS grad. Nice guy.
Author:  lipidquadcab [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I don't want a female doctor. Or an Indian.

I can see the former, what with touching the nether region and all that...but why not an Indian? Not judging, genuinely curious.
Author:  Rod [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
lipidquadcab wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I don't want a female doctor. Or an Indian.

I can see the former, what with touching the nether region and all that...but why not an Indian? Not judging, genuinely curious.


I'm sure this comes off as prejudicial and bigoted, but medical care is highly personal. And this may seem odd, but I put more of a premium on "bedside manner" than medical proficiency. I want to be able to speak to my doctor in a familiar way. I prefer he not sound like an Uber driver regardless of whether he's the world's greatest surgeon. I also don't want a condescending Jewish guy. It was hard for me to find Bajgrowicz. And I wasn't sure I'd like him because I was concerned he'd be too foreign.
Author:  $1,000 [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
lipidquadcab wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I don't want a female doctor. Or an Indian.

I can see the former, what with touching the nether region and all that...but why not an Indian? Not judging, genuinely curious.


I'm sure this comes off as prejudicial and bigoted, but medical care is highly personal. And this may seem odd, but I put more of a premium on "bedside manner" than medical proficiency. I want to be able to speak to my doctor in a familiar way. I prefer he not sound like an Uber driver regardless of whether he's the world's greatest surgeon. I also don't want a condescending Jewish guy. It was hard for me to find Bajgrowicz. And I wasn't sure I'd like him because I was concerned he'd be too foreign.


Strange. Jewish doctors seem to love me.
Author:  GoldenJet [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
My favorite Dr as an adult has been the beautiful, Indian Dr Sheila M. Unfortunately, she never had to touch my junk due to my being young and healthy. She had a wonderful personality and bedside manor. She retired after losing a sibling...deciding life was too short, it was time for the next chapter.

Her nephew, Dr Peter, took over and has been fantastic. We actually played hoops together a few times at the Gurnee Centre Club. He's a good dude.
Author:  Rod [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 2:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
GoldenJet wrote:
My favorite Dr as an adult has been the beautiful, Indian Dr Sheila M. Unfortunately, she never had to touch my junk due to my being young and healthy. She had a wonderful personality and bedside manor. She retired after losing a sibling...deciding life was too short, it was time for the next chapter.

Her nephew, Dr Peter, took over and has been fantastic. We actually played hoops together a few times at the Gurnee Centre Club. He's a good dude.


Yeah, I'm not saying there isn't a female or an Indian doctor out there that I would love. From my experience, that just isn't where I'm gonna start looking.

If I were an Indian living in Mumbai, I probably wouldn't want an American doctor.
Author:  veganfan21 [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
GoldenJet wrote:
My favorite Dr as an adult has been the beautiful, Indian Dr Sheila M. Unfortunately, she never had to touch my junk due to my being young and healthy. She had a wonderful personality and bedside manor. She retired after losing a sibling...deciding life was too short, it was time for the next chapter.

Her nephew, Dr Peter, took over and has been fantastic. We actually played hoops together a few times at the Gurnee Centre Club. He's a good dude.


Yeah, I'm not saying there isn't a female or an Indian doctor out there that I would love. From my experience, that just isn't where I'm gonna start looking.

If I were an Indian living in Mumbai, I probably wouldn't want an American doctor.


I don't think there's anything bigoted about wanting a doctor you're comfortable with, even if it means limiting yourself to a certain type of doctor. The way I personally look at it is maybe not through ethnicity, but, like you alluded to, gender and language. I prefer males who are native speakers, or at least speak at a near native level.
Author:  Killer V [ Sat Dec 24, 2016 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Is this a sexist study?
I've had female doctors most of my adult life. My last one went into corporate practice and I need a new one now.

I can't help but feel creepy trying to find a female doctor now.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/