[Gender-specific aspects of physicians work].
OBJECTIVE
The influences of physicians' and patients' gender on the prescription behaviour seems to be important in background of epidemiology, economy and medicine.


METHODS
Dataset of 24 physicians (general and internal medicine) and their 11 322 patients in 1995 and 1996 were examined focusing the prescription of psychopharmaceuticals, analgesics and hypnoticals.


RESULTS
Distinct effects of physicians gender were shown: Male physicians prescribed more frequently drugs in all three groups (p < 0,001). In the prescription of analgesics, male physicians prescribed significantly more daily defined doses (DDD) (p = 0,001). Concerning the patients' gender it was shown, that female patients received psychopharmaceuticals significantly more frequently than male patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results point out that there are differences in the prescribing behaviour of psychopharmaceuticals, analgesics and hypnoticals. This surprising result should be taken into consideration in research and training of physicians.
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
D000700:Analgesics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte der ärztlichen Tätigkeit - Verschreiben Arzte häufiger Medikamente als Arztinnen? -