Physicians' information seeking behavior in patients presenting with heart failure symptoms – Does gender of physician and patient matter?. Issue 12 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koens, Sarah; Marx, Gabriella; Gras, Colette; Scherer, Martin; Lüdecke, Daniel; von dem Knesebeck, Olaf
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 103:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 2437
• Page End: 2442
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Gender differences -- Medical decision-making -- Anamnesis -- Heart failure -- Primary care physicians; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.05.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: Female physicians would ask more questions in case of a patient with heart failure. Female physicians would more often ask about psychosocial aspects. Male patients were more often asked about lifestyle aspects. Abstract: Objective: To examine differences in the anamnesis in heart failure patients by patient and physician gender. Methods: A factorial experimental design with video vignettes was applied. While the dialog of an initial encounter because of heart failure symptoms was identical in all videos, patients, played by professional actors, differed in terms of gender (male/female), age (55 years/75 years) and Turkish migration history (no/yes). After viewing the video, 128 physicians ( 50 % female) were asked if they wanted to ask additional questions (yes/no) and if so, what they wanted to ask (open ended). A coding frame was conducted for the open ended question. Results: Compared to male physicians, female physicians more often said they wanted to ask additional questions, especially about psychosocial aspects. Physicians, particularly female physicians, wanted to ask male patients more often about lifestyle aspects compared to female patients. Conclusion: Although the dialog was identical in all videos, some variations in the anamnestic approach regarding physician and patient gender were identified. This is in contrast to current heart failure guidelines that recommend a detailed anamnesis in all patients presenting themselves with heart failure symptoms. Practice Implications: Primary care physicians should reflect how possible gender stereotypes may influence their anamnestic behavior.