Gender Bias in Physicians' Management of Neck Pain: A Study of the Answers in a Swedish National Examination

Hamberg, Katarina; Risberg, Gunilla; Johansson, Eva; Westman, Göran

doi:10.1089/152460902760360595

Cited by 122 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In a large variety of conditions, such as coronary artery disease [8,11,18], Parkinson's disease [9], irritable bowel syndrome [19], neck pain [20], knee joint arthrosis [21] and tuberculosis [10], men are investigated and treated more extensively than women with the same severity of symptoms. In a recent study of treatment in psoriasis, the number of patients and the severity of the disease did not differ between men and women, yet there was far more expenditures for clinic-based treatment for male patients, than female patients who received emollients for self-care to a greater extent [22].…”

Section: Gender Bias In Clinical Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The construction of gender is done in interaction, involving the patient as well as the doctor or other caregivers. There are several examples from research where identical narratives are interpreted in different ways depending on whether the future science group future science group www.futuremedicine.com narrator was male or female [7,19,20,52]. Translated to clinical situations this means that when male and female patients tell their stories, the doctor, nurse or other member of the healthcare staff is inclined to interpret even identical narratives in different ways because of assumptions and preconceived ideas about women and men.…”

Section: Adding Gender Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gender Bias in Medicine

Hamberg

2008

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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246

146

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Gender bias has implications in the treatment of both male and female patients and it is important to take into consideration in most fields of medical research, clinical practice and education. Gender blindness and stereotyped preconceptions about men and women are identified as key causes to gender bias. However, exaggeration of observed sex and gender differences can also lead to bias. This article will examine the phenomenon of gender bias in medicine, present useful concepts and models for the understanding of bias, and outline areas of interest for further research. Research has shown that different biological processes, anatomies, conditions in daily life, environmental experiences, risk behaviors and responses to stressful events, may all contribute to variation in health and disease in men and women [1-5]. There is also evidence that women, for no apparent medical reason, are not offered the same treatment as men, a phenomenon that raises the question of gender bias. Many studies, for example, show that women are less likely than men to receive more advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions [6-11]. The word bias means 'prejudice' or 'distortion' and is a threatening phenomenon in all kinds of research and human activity. When we talk about gender bias in medicine we usually either mean an unintended, but systematic neglect of either women or men, stereotyped preconceptions about the health, behavior, experiences, needs, wishes and so on, of men and women, or neglect of gender issues relevant to the topic of interest. Gender bias has implications in treatment of both male and female patients and it is important to take into consideration in most fields of medical research, clinical practice and education. Gender bias is also a relevant issue in the discussion of clinical and academic advancements and careers [12]; however, that aspect is not the focus of this article. Since there is confusion in medicine about the use of the concept of gender [13], my use of the term is presented below.

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Section: Gender Bias In Clinical Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adding Gender Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Bias in Medicine

Hamberg

2008

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

Self Cite

246

146

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“…Equity may be questioned when gender differences are overlooked leading to a generalized healthcare, as well as when improper beliefs about such differences affect the choice of examination or treatment [34]. The term gender-bias is used within medical gender research to identify and problematize the consequences of unconscious or conscious beliefs about sex or gender that can lead to inequity [34,35]. Gender is defined as the social and relational aspects of sex, rather than as a fixed state [34,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiotherapeutic interventions and physical activity for children in Northern Sweden with cerebral palsy: a register study from equity and gender perspectives

Degerstedt

Wiklund

Enberg

2017

Global Health Action

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Background: Young people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities, report worse health than others. This may be because of the disability, lower levels of physical activity, and discrimination. For children with cerebral palsy, access to physiotherapy and physical activity is a crucial prerequisite for good health and function. To date, there is limited knowledge regarding potential gender bias and inequity in habilitation services. Objectives: To map how physiotherapeutic interventions (PTI), physical leisure activity, and physical education are allocated for children with cerebral palsy regarding sex, age, level of gross motor function, and county council affiliation. This was done from a gender and equity perspective. Methods: A register study using data from the Cerebral Palsy follow-Up Program (CPUP). Data included 313 children ≤18 years with cerebral palsy from the five northern counties in Sweden during 2013. Motor impairment of the children was classified according to the expanded and revised Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results: In three county councils, boys received more physiotherapy interventions and received them more frequently than girls did. Differences between county councils were seen for frequency and reasons for physiotherapy interventions (p < 0.001). The physiotherapist was involved more often with children who had lower motor function and with children who had low physical leisure activity. Children with lower motor function level participated in physical leisure activity less often than children with less motor impairment (p < 0.001). Boys participated more frequently in physical education than did girls (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Gender and county council affiliation affect the distribution of physiotherapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy, and there are associations between gender and physical activity. Thus, the intervention is not always determined by the needs of the child or the degree of impairment. A gender-bias is indicated. Further studies are needed to ensure fair interventions.

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“…In another study, doctors suggested that men with neck pain should be sent for laboratory tests, while women more often had diagnostic referral to a physiotherapist or an orthopaedist, and were given prescriptions for drugs (9). The gender of the doctor also impacts on which treatment of neck pain (9) and back pain (10) men and women receive, while the female physicians were more likely to give special treatment to the women and male physicians to the men.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A gender perspective on physiotherapy treatment in patients with neck and back pain

Stenberg¹,

Ahlgren²

2009

Adv. in Physiotherapy

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Women report more pain from the musculoskeletal system, and more disability, than do men. As a consequence, women more often seek health care than men do, and are more often on sick leave. Research shows that female patients and male patients are treated differently by physicians and that the physician's gender also influenced the choice of treatment. The aim was to study whether the patients' and/or the physiotherapists' gender influences physiotherapy treatments for patients with neck and/or low back pain. During three days in April 2006, 73 physiotherapists in primary care and private practices collected information on 586 patients with neck and/or low back pain. The information included data on the affected pain sites and the treatment procedures used by the physiotherapist. Baseline data on the physiotherapists were collected with a questionnaire. The results showed that female and male physiotherapists mainly used the same treatment procedures, but with some differences. The female physiotherapists used significantly more acupuncture and procedures directed toward treatment of mental function. They also gave their patients a unique combination of treatment procedures to a greater extent than their male colleagues. The male physiotherapists used significantly more training of joint mobility. Male and female patients were given the same treatment.

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Gender Bias in Physicians' Management of Neck Pain: A Study of the Answers in a Swedish National Examination

Abstract: The results suggest that physicians' gendered expectations are involved in creating gender differences in medicine. The inclusion of gender theory and discussions about gender attitudes into medical school curricula is recommended to bring about awareness of the problem.

Cited by 122 publications

References 28 publications

Gender Bias in Medicine

Gender Bias in Medicine

Physiotherapeutic interventions and physical activity for children in Northern Sweden with cerebral palsy: a register study from equity and gender perspectives

A gender perspective on physiotherapy treatment in patients with neck and back pain

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