Hospitalized patients treated by female physicians were less likely to die or return to hospital than those treated by male physicians, according to a new study led by a University of Toronto researcher. The findings suggest that physician sex may be associated with differences in both short-term and longer-term outcomes for patients receiving treatment for common medical conditions.
The study, conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), analysed health records of 958,150 adults admitted to hospital between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2022. Patients were hospitalized for one of seven common medical diagnoses, including acute myocardial infarction and pneumonia.
Of the patients included in the analysis, 259,759 received care from female physicians, while 698,391 were treated by male physicians. Since responsibility for patient care can transfer between several doctors during a hospital stay, researchers examined both the sex of the most responsible physician and the extent of patients’ exposure to female physicians throughout their admission.
“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,” says Dr. Angela Jerath, an ICES scientist and associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Lower Mortality and Readmission Rates Among Patients Treated by Female Physicians
The analysis found a difference in mortality rates between patients treated by female and male physicians. The 30-day mortality rate was 12.3% among patients cared for by female physicians, compared with 13.7% among those treated by male physicians.
Hospital readmission rates were also slightly lower for patients treated by female physicians. The study recorded a readmission rate of 18.6% for this group, compared with 18.9% for patients treated by male physicians.
The researchers also found that greater exposure to female physicians during hospitalization was associated with 7% lower odds of dying within 30 days. Similar patterns were observed when researchers examined outcomes at 90 days and one year.
These findings suggest that differences in physician involvement during hospital stays may be associated with patient outcomes beyond the initial period of treatment.
Communication and Treatment Practices May Explain the Difference
The researchers identified several possible explanations for the observed differences. Female physicians may be more likely to engage in patient-centred communication and spend additional time interacting with patients.
Other potential factors include greater adherence to guideline-directed treatments, more frequent consultation with colleagues and a greater emphasis on shared decision-making.
However, the study does not establish that any single practice directly causes the differences in patient outcomes. Further research is needed to understand which aspects of clinical care may contribute to the findings.
Jerath emphasized that the objective is not to favour one group of physicians over another, but to identify practices that could improve patient care across the healthcare system.
An important strength of the research is its focus on patients hospitalized for medical conditions rather than surgical procedures. According to the researchers, medical patients are generally assigned physicians through rotating schedules instead of being directed to particular doctors based on patient or referring physician preferences.
Read More :