Does being a woman make a difference in professional practice? A qualitative view to the practice of rheumatology.
OBJECTIVE
To explore to what extent female rheumatologists perceived that gender had an influence on their professional practice or on their choice of specialty.


METHODS
We collected data from 29 female rheumatologists and used qualitative and quantitative methods to describe the findings.


RESULTS
Three groups of respondents were identified (cluster analysis). Most of these rheumatologists perceived that gender influenced the way they practiced, although the specific weights of the topics were different in the 3 groups. Gender also influenced these physicians' choice of specialty field.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in practice style may have a potential effect on health systems as feminization of the medical profession increases.
Clark
P
P
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional, Siglo XXI, IMSS, and Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City. clarkfam@compuserve.com.mx
Martínez
H
H
Ryan
G
G
Barile
L
L
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D012723:Sex; D013038:Specialization