Does gender bias in cardiac stress testing still exist? A videographic analysis nested in a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Despite a high prevalence of coronary heart disease in both genders, studies show a gender disparity in evaluation whereby women are less likely than men to undergo timely or comprehensive cardiac investigation. Using videographic analysis, we sought to quantify gender differences in provider recommendations and patient evaluations.


METHODS
We analyzed video recordings from our Chest Pain Choice trial, a single center patient-level randomized trial in which emergency department patients with chest pain being considered for cardiac stress testing were randomized to shared decision-making or usual care. Patient-provider interactions were video recorded. We compared characteristics and outcomes by gender.


RESULTS
Of the 204 patients enrolled (101 decision aid; 103 usual care), 120 (58.8%) were female. Of the 75 providers evaluated, 20 (26.7%) were female. The mean (SD) pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome was lower in women [3.7% (2.2) vs 6.7% (4.4), P=.0002]. There was no gender effect on duration of discussion, clinician recommendations, OPTION scores, patient perceptions, or eventual patient dispositions. When the clinician and patient gender matched, OPTION scores were lower (interaction P=.002), and patients were less likely to find the information to be very helpful (interaction P=.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a lower pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome in women, we did not observe any significant gender disparity in how patients were managed and evaluated. When the patients' and providers' gender matched, the provider involved them less in the decision making process, and the information provided was less helpful than when the genders did not match.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
David M
DM
Nestler
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Waqas I
WI
Gilani
Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN.
Ryan T
RT
Anderson
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
M Fernanda
MF
Bellolio
Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Megan E
ME
Branda
Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Annie
A
LeBlanc
Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Sean
S
Phelan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Ronna L
RL
Campbell
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: hess.erik@mayo.edu.
Erik P
EP
Hess
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism; D014741:Video Recording