Pulmonologist Gender Preference and Associated Factors.

Abstract

The preference for the gender of physicians has been the subject of numerous studies, primarily conducted abroad. Several of these studies reveal that a considerable number of female patients prefer to consult with a female doctor, especially for issues related to gynecological care. This study aimed to: (a) investigate patient preferences regarding the gender of physicians in pulmonology, (b) explore factors related to these preferences, and (c) examine the relationship between gender preferences and health locus control among the treated individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied in this study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of three parts: The first part includes questions related to the demographic characteristics of the sample (age, profession, education, etc.). The second part of the questionnaire consists of a specially designed section that examines (a) gender preferences for the pulmonologist, (b) age preferences of the physician, and (c) reasons for choosing a specific gender, such as knowledge and skills, communication, etc. Finally, the third part of the questionnaire includes the Health Locus of Control scale. The statistical software package for social sciences (SPSS), version 25.0, was utilized for data analysis. The level of statistical significance will be set at 0.05.

Results: According to the results, the majority of the participants didn't have a specific preference, but if they did, they favored female pulmonologists over men. Moreover, only monthly income emerged as a significant associated factor for pulmonologist gender preference.

Conclusion: The majority exhibited no specific preference, but among those who did, a preference for female pulmonologists over males was observed. Monthly income emerged as a significant factor associated with pulmonologist gender preference.