Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
Ontario study links care by female hospital doctors to better outcomes
An Ontario study found better outcomes among patients cared for by female hospital doctors.
Researchers examined health records for 958,150 adults treated for one of seven common medical conditions between 2008 and 2022.
At 30 days, 12.3% of patients treated by female doctors had died, compared with 13.7% treated by male doctors.
Readmission rates were also slightly lower for patients treated by female doctors: 18.6%, compared with 18.9%.
More exposure to care from female doctors was linked to 7% lower odds of dying within 30 days, with similar patterns at 90 days and one year.
Researchers said possible reasons include more patient-focused communication, use of guideline-based treatments and shared decisions, but the study does not show that a doctor's sex caused the differences.
Further research will examine differences in care and whether the findings apply elsewhere.
An Ontario study found that hospitalized patients cared for by female physicians had lower 30-day mortality and readmission rates than patients cared for by male physicians.
The study analyzed records for 958,150 adults hospitalized for one of seven common medical diagnoses.
Patients cared for by female physicians had a 30-day mortality rate of 12.3 per cent, compared with 13.7 per cent for those cared for by male physicians.
Readmission rates were 18.6 per cent for patients cared for by female physicians and 18.9 per cent for those cared for by male physicians.
Researchers said possible explanations include more patient-centred communication, more time with patients and greater use of guideline-directed treatments.
- Who
- Researchers at Ontario’s ICES, led by Angela Jerath, studied hospitalized patients and their physicians.
- What
- The study found lower mortality and readmission rates among patients cared for by female physicians.
- When
- The study covered hospitalizations from Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2022. Findings were released on Friday and published in the October issue of JAMA Network Open.
- Where
- Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- The research aimed to examine links between physician sex and patient outcomes and identify practices that could improve care.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers analyzed records of adults hospitalized in Ontario for one of seven common medical diagnoses.
The study findings were released.
The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
- Study population
- 958,150 adults hospitalized in Ontario
- Study period
- Jan. 1, 2008–Dec. 31, 2022
- Diagnoses
- Seven common medical diagnoses, including pneumonia
- 30-day mortality
- 12.3 per cent for patients cared for by female physicians; 13.7 per cent for those cared for by male physicians
- Hospital readmission
- 18.6 per cent for patients cared for by female physicians; 18.9 per cent for those cared for by male physicians
- Increased exposure to female physician care
- Associated with 7 per cent lower odds of death within 30 days
4 sources
¿El sexo de su médico importa?: un estudio revela mejores resultados en los pacientes atendidos por mujeres
Female hospital doctors linked to better outcomes for patients, study says
Hospital patients treated by female physicians have better outcomes
Los pacientes hospitalarios tratados por doctoras tienen mejor pronóstico
What people are saying
Past research has largely focused on surgical patients and the admitting physician only. Our findings add to the growing body of research examining the relationship between physician sex and patient outcomes, broadening the evidence beyond surgical care to a wider range of medical conditions and other physicians
The goal is not to favour one group of physicians over another but to identify practices and behaviours that may help improve care across the health system
This is about decision-making
This is about how you interact with other human beings. None of this is finite or fixed in stone. We can all learn from each other.