Gender sensitivity among general practitioners: results of a training programme.
BACKGROUND
Gender differences contribute to patients' health and illness. However in current healthcare practices attention to gender differences is still underdeveloped. Recognizing these differences and taking them into account can improve the quality of care. In this study we aimed to investigate whether GPs' gender sensitivity can be stimulated by a training programme. The focus was on three diseases: angina pectoris, depression and urinary incontinence.


METHODS
This study had a quantitative, explorative and descriptive design. By means of a training programme 18 GPs were trained to focus on gender-sensitive recommendations for the three diseases. With standardised registration forms, data were collected during a 6-month period. During the registration period, the GPs were visited by the study team to discuss the process of data collection.


RESULTS
The GPs filled in registration forms for 100 patients: 39 with angina pectoris (31 women and 8 men), 40 with depression (26 women and 14 men), and 21 with urinary incontinence (20 women and 1 man). The results show that gender sensitivity can be stimulated among trained professionals. The combination of the training programme, clear and practical recommendations, daily discussion of relevant cases between the GP couples, feedback and support during registration by the study team probably contributed to the outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs' gender sensitivity was stimulated by the training programme and the supporting visits. Ideally, structural attention could be realised by embedding gender issues in existing organisational structures of general practices.
Celik
Halime H
HH
Department of Health, Ethics and Society, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. h.celik@zw.unimaas.nl
Klinge
Ineke I
II
Weijden
Trudy T van der
TT
Widdershoven
Guy G A M
GG
Lagro-Janssen
Toine A L M
TA
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy