Muslim women's physician preference: beyond obstetrics and gynecology.
When Emirati (Muslim) women (n = 218) were asked about their preferred physician (in terms of gender, religion, and nationality) for three personal clinical scenarios, a female was almost exclusively preferred for the gynecological (96.8%) and "stomach" (94.5%) scenarios, while ±46% of the women also preferred a female physician for the facial allergy scenario. Only 17% considered physician gender important for the prepubertal child scenario. Just over half of the women preferred a Muslim physician for personal examinations (vs. 37.6% for the child). Being less educated and having a lower literacy level were significant predictors of preferred physician religion for some personal scenarios, whereas a higher education level was a significant predictor for physician gender not mattering for the facial allergy scenario. Muslim women's preference for same gender physicians, and to a lesser extent religion, has implications for health care services beyond obstetrics and gynecology.
Department of Medical Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. mimclean@bond.edu.au
Michelle
M
McLean
Fatima
F
Al Yahyaei
Muneera
M
Al Mansoori
Mouza
M
Al Ameri
Salma
S
Al Ahbabi
Roos
R
Bernsen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult