For example, a difference between the communication of male and female physicians could be a manifestation of their own values and repertoire of skills, but it could also result from their response to differential demands and expectations placed on them by their patients. Therefore, our approach is descriptive rather than causal. These beliefs coincide with general stereotypes of men and women. These differences are not large in absolute magnitude, but they are well-documented. The question arises, therefore, whether either selection factors or the impact of medical education is a potent enough force to eliminate these differences from the practice styles of physicians.
Research shows that female physicians conduct longer visits than male physicians.
7,8 One contributor to this effect is increased participation by patients in visits with female physicians. In visits with female physicians, patients disclose more biomedical and psychosocial information and engage in more partnership building and positive talk. 7,8 The relative participation of the physician and the patient is the most equal when both are female. In addition, female physicians report liking their patients more than do male physicians. These differences correspond well with gender differences reported for nonclinical populations, indicating that neither selection nor medical socialization eliminates gender differences in physician practice style.