Physician gender preference of patients undergoing radiologic imaging

Purpose: Many studies have investigated whether patients have a preference when it comes to the gender of their physician. Reasons may include patient modesty or religious practices. For a variety of specialties, it has been found that while the majority of patients have no preference, those who do are typically females who prefer female physicians for more sensitive medical procedures. Many DR and IR departments offer a number of imaging procedures or treatment including breast biopsies, hysterosalpingograms, and uterine artery embolisms. Because they focus on the female reproductive organs, some of these procedures may be considered sensitive. Though studies have been conducted on patient preferences about the gender of their physician in different specialties, we were unable to find any that particularly focus on patients' preferences about the gender of the radiologist performing a particular imaging procedure.

Methods/Materials: Literature was reviewed and a survey created and distributed to female patients of a Midwestern teaching hospital who were receiving testing or procedures by the radiology department over the course of several months. This study was IRB approved. Inclusion criteria were that the patient was female, over 18 years of age, and receiving care from the department of radiology. Patient MRNs were collected and charts were reviewed to gather demographic information such as age.

Results: So far, a total of 152 surveys have been collected. Ages ranged from 20 to 96 years old with a mean age of 52.3 years. The majority were married and white. Patients had a variety of education levels and religious affiliations. Gender preference depended on the type of procedure with sensitive procedures correlated to a larger gender preference. No women reported ever having a preference for a male radiologist. In emergency situations, few women had any preference or they wished to have the most qualified physician no matter the gender.

Conclusions: A gender preference is reported more often when the procedure is sensitive such as a breast biopsy or pelvic ultrasound. When there was a preference, women always indicated that they preferred a female physician.