title: Patient sex role and preference for a male or female physician.
abstract: A study was undertaken to test whether a patient's sex role, as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory, is associated with preference for a male or female physician. One hundred ninety-three patients completed a physician preference survey and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Thirty-six percent of patients preferred a physician of a specific sex. For women, sex role was associated with preference for a female physician (chi 2 = 16.14, P less than .01). Women with an androgynous sex role who gave a preference always chose a female physician; three fourths of women with an undifferentiated sex role who gave a preference always chose a female physician. Regardless of sex role, men who gave a preference always chose a male physician. For women, these findings support the hypothesis that sex role is associated with preference for a female physician.
authors.affiliation: Group Health of Spokane, WA 99206-3768.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Weyrauch
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Boiko
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians; D010822:Physicians, Women; D012737:Sex Factors; D014861:Washington