Lisa Bourke1. 1. Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria. bourke@unimelb.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore people's preferences for their general practitioners' sex, testing the hypothesis that more women than men prefer a GP of the same sex. METHOD: A random sample of 1220 people in Victoria surveyed about visits to, satisfaction with, and preferences for their GP. A set of 14 characteristics of GPs and their practices revealed the preferences of consumers, and which were related to each other. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of women and 19% of men preferred to see a GP of the same sex. The most important characteristic was being 'a good doctor', associated with clinical and communication ability. CONCLUSION: General practitioners' communication skills, experience and quality of care are more important to consumers than the age or sex of the GP.
OBJECTIVE: To explore people's preferences for their general practitioners' sex, testing the hypothesis that more women than men prefer a GP of the same sex. METHOD: A random sample of 1220 people in Victoria surveyed about visits to, satisfaction with, and preferences for their GP. A set of 14 characteristics of GPs and their practices revealed the preferences of consumers, and which were related to each other. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of women and 19% of men preferred to see a GP of the same sex. The most important characteristic was being 'a good doctor', associated with clinical and communication ability. CONCLUSION: General practitioners' communication skills, experience and quality of care are more important to consumers than the age or sex of the GP.
Authors: Madelinn Fink; Kendall Klein; Kia Sayers; John Valentino; Claudia Leonardi; Amy Bronstone; Pamela M Wiseman; Vinod Dasa Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2020 Jan-Dec