According to a new study from scholars at the University of Toronto and the Ontario-based research institution, ICES, hospitalized patients treated by female physicians have lower mortality and readmission rates than those treated by male physicians.
The study authors examined data on 958,150 adult patients who were hospitalized at an Ontario hospital between January 2008 and December 2022 for one of seven common acute medical conditions. Among these patients, 259,759 were treated primarily by a female physician and 689,391 were treated by a male physician.
After controlling for other factors, the authors found that patients who were cared for by a female doctor had lower 30-day mortality rates than those who were cared for by a male doctor (12.3 percent versus 13.7 percent). Female physician-treated patients also had slightly lower hospital readmission rates than male physician-treated patients (18.6 percent versus 18.9 percent).
Although the authors cannot identify the underlying mechanisms of these sex-based differences in patient outcomes, they offer several possible explanations for their findings. Prior research has shown that female physicians are more likely to use shared-decision making and patient-centered communication, spend more time with their patients, and show greater empathic concern. Female doctors may also be more likely to order appropriate diagnostic tests, prescribe guideline-directed treatments, and follow evidence-based screening practices. Additionally, other research cited by the authors suggests female physicians may have more conservative treatment practices and are more likely to consult colleagues when making decisions.
The research team also included authors affiliated with the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Keele University in England.