title: The effects of dialogue groups on physicians' work environment: A matter of gender?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past decades, the work environment of physicians has been deteriorating, particularly for female physicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we evaluated the effects of dialogue groups on the work environment of physicians in relation to gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty physicians (38 women) at Sachs' Children's Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, participated in dialogue groups once a month during a period of one year. Assessments of their psychosocial work environment were performed before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, female physicians experienced their work environment as less satisfactory compared to male physicians. After the intervention, the female physicians perceived improvements in more areas than their male colleagues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that female physicians at this clinic were disadvantaged in relation to the work environment, but, more importantly, the findings suggest that several of the disadvantages can be reduced. Dialogue groups appear to improve the physicians' work environment and promote gender equality.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liljefors
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Work environment; dialogue groups; gender differences; longitudinal; physicians