RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Gender Of Physicians And Patients And Preventive Care For Community-Based Older Adults
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Practice
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 359
OP 365
DO 10.3122/jabfm.6.4.359
VO 6
IS 4
A1 Barbara A. Majeroni
A1 Jurgis Karuza
A1 Cassandra Wade
A1 Melissa McCreadie
A1 Evan Calkins
YR 1993
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/6/4/359.abstract
AB Background: This study was undertaken to determine whether the gender of patients and physicians is a significant factor in deciding which older adults are offered preventive care. Methods: A survey of medical records of ambulatory patients older than 60 years was performed in the practices of 210 physicians. Documentation of influenza vaccine, rectal examination, fecal occult blood test, Papanicolaou smear, pelvic examination, breast examination, mammogram, and pneumococcal vaccine was recorded, and rates of compliance were evaluated by sex of patient and physician. Results: The medical records of 3327 patients were surveyed. Men were given influenza and pneumococcal vaccines more frequently than women. Among physicians, women physicians were more likely to give influenza vaccine (P = 0.003) and to check for fecal occult blood (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between men and women physicians in the frequency of doing Papanicolaou smears, breast examinations, rectal examinations, and mammograms. Conclusions: While a difference in practice patterns was found between men and women physicians, most of the variance in compliance with preventive care guidelines was unexplained by the gender of physicians and patients. Matching of physician and patient by sex did not predict improved preventive care, indicating that other factors are involved in the failure to provide adeuate primary preventive care to the ambulatory elderly.