[How gender and communication style of physicians affect patient satisfaction: the little difference].

Patients are particularly satisfied with the medical consultation when physicians adopt a patient-oriented communication style which is characterized by emotional participation, exploring the meaning of a disease for the life of the patient, and including the patient in decision making. Female physicians are much more likely to adopt such a patient-oriented communication style than male physicians. As a consequence, patients should be more satisfied after consultations with female than with male physicians. However, research shows that there is no difference: patients are equally satisfied with female and male physicians. This article sheds light on this paradox and explains it based on gender role stereotypes and patient expectations.