Abdul Halim N, Beaineh P, Fenianos M, Gebran S, Msheik A, Sharara S, Nabulsi M. Preferences of Lebanese adults for the gender of their surgeons: a cross-sectional study.
East Mediterr Health J 2020;
26:573-579. [PMID:
32538451 DOI:
10.26719/emhj.19.093]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Background
More females are specializing in surgery in Lebanon, but it is not known if a gender bias exists among Lebanese people in their preference of their surgeons.
Aims
This study investigated the preference of Lebanese men and women for the gender of surgeons and explored reasons for their preferences.
Methods
A convenience sample of 1000 Lebanese adults were asked about their preferences for the gender of surgeons of different specialties (paediatrics, cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ear nose and throat, plastic surgery and obstetrics/gynaecology). The association between the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and gender preference for surgeons was examined in bivariate and multivariable regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.
Results
Half of the respondents had no gender preference for their surgeons whatever their speciality. Male surgeons were preferred over females for cardiac (44.2% versus 3.7% respectively), neurological (43.4% versus 4.1%) and orthopaedic procedures (41.9% versus 3.5%) whereas male and female obstetricians/gynaecologists were equally preferred (23.6% and 25.0% respectively). Being male (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.57-0.97) or single (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44-0.96) decreased the likelihood of choosing a male heart surgeon whereas employment increased that likelihood (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03-1.83). Perceived competence, reputation and trustworthiness of male surgeons influenced participants' choices whereas the choice of an obstetrician/gynaecologist was related to privacy and comfort.
Conclusions
The preference for female surgeons in Lebanon varies by the type of surgical specialty. Qualitative studies exploring the social determinants of patients' preferences are needed.
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