By Bethany Fenton MS3, Meghan Etsey MS3, and Ariela Marshall MD, on behalf of AMWA Gender Equity Task Force
Women physicians are putting in the work to build relationships with patients, and these efforts pay off. A 2024 study showed that patients treated by women physicians had a lower 30-day mortality rate and a lower hospital readmission rate than those treated by male physicians (Miyawaki). But this is not new information. A 2018 study showed that there was a higher mortality rate for women patients with myocardial infarction (MI) who were treated by male physicians, whereas patients, both men and women with an MI, had improved survival rates when treated by women physicians (Greenwood). Why is this—Why do patients have better outcomes when under the care of women physicians?
We believe that one major contributing factor is the communication style that many women physicians utilize in their practice. Communication is the foundation of many aspects of our day-to-day life. Not only does it impact our personal relationships, it affects the physician-patient relationship. Effective communication enhances the patient experience. Over the past decade, more evidence has emerged, suggesting that a physician’s gender influences their communication style and can impact patient satisfaction, trust, treatment adherence, and overall outcomes (Jefferson). In this blog post, we will explore the role of gender in shaping these communication practices, presenting evidence from research conducted in recent years.
Several foundational studies shape our understanding of gender differences in physician communication. Three early studies demonstrated that women physicians consistently engage in more patient-centered communication than their male counterparts (Roter et al., 1988, 2002, and 2004). Their communication style includes active partnership-building, positive talk, psychosocial counseling, and emotionally focused discussions as well as nonverbal behaviors such as smiling and nodding. These elements foster trust and lead to improved adherence to treatment plans. Additionally, Roter et al found that women physicians in primary care spent, on average, two minutes more with their patients than men—a small but potentially significant difference in enhancing patient care.
Two decades later, research continues to support these findings. Findings from a recent study indicated that hospitalized general medicine patients treated by women physicians experienced better adherence to evidence-based practices, more patient-centered care (ie, engaging in more active partnership behaviors, positive talk, psychosocial counseling, psychosocial question asking, and emotionally focused talk), and slightly lower rates of adverse outcomes, such as readmissions (Sergeant). These results suggest that women physicians often adopt more collaborative and individualized approaches, leading to improved patient health. Similarly, another study reported that patients of women physicians consistently rated their satisfaction higher, particularly regarding communication (DeWitt). The patient-centered approach taken by women physicians fosters trust and encourages more in-depth discussions about patient preferences, concerns, and values, and in turn promotes adherence to treatment plans. Further reinforcing this pattern, another study analyzed 24.4 million primary care visits and found that women physicians, on average, spent 2.4 minutes more per visit than men, echoing Roter et al.’s 2002 findings (Ganguli).
While this patient-centered communication style leads to improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes, it may also contribute to the higher rates of burnout among women physicians. As Roter et al. noted, the additional time women spend with patients combined with their emphasis on psychosocial engagement, places greater demands on their time and energy.
This raises a critical question: How can healthcare systems balance the benefits of women physicians’ patient-centered communication styles while also mitigating the risk of burnout? In an era where efficiency and patient volume often take precedence in health care– driven by productivity metrics, administrative demands, and the pressure to see more patients in less time– there is a need to shift the focus back to the patient. Prioritizing quality time over quantity in patient interactions not only enhances outcomes and satisfaction but also aligns with the evidence supporting the long-term benefits of the more communicative, empathetic approach that women physicians often exemplify.
The patient-centered approach of women physicians is strongly linked to increased patient satisfaction. When patients feel heard, valued, and involved in decision-making, they are more likely to trust their physician and adhere to medical advice (DeWitt). However, despite these advantages, women physicians face systemic challenges that can impact their professional experience and patient care. Gender-based discrimination remains prevalent, affecting career advancement, job satisfaction, and well-being. Research has found that women physicians report higher rates of burnout compared to their male counterparts, often due to workplace bias and the additional expectations placed upon them (McKinley). This raises an important consideration: How can healthcare systems balance the benefits of patient-centered care with the need to support women physicians’ well-being? Addressing this gap is crucial for sustaining both physician satisfaction and high-quality patient care.
The influence of gender on doctor-patient communication is a complex and multifaceted topic. Research over the past few decades has shown that women physicians tend to employ more empathetic, patient-centered communication styles, which often leads to better patient outcomes, including higher satisfaction and greater adherence to treatment plans.
Ultimately, improving doctor-patient communication should be a higher priority for medical training and practice with an emphasis on empathy, inclusivity, and shared decision-making. By fostering communication practices that transcend gender, healthcare systems can ensure better outcomes for all patients.
About the Authors:
Meghan Etsey, MS3 is a third year medical student from St. George’s University. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Biology and a Bachelors of Arts in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. She served as the President of the St. George’s University’s Women in Medicine chapter in St. George, Grenada where she expanded relationships with the community and worked towards educating women and helping the youth. She is also a member of the Gender Equity Task Force and Sex and Gender Health Collaborative Committees within the American Medical Women’s Association. When she is not pursuing medicine, you can find her with her friends and family on different road trips and adventures exploring the world.
Bethany Fenton, MS3 is a third year medical student from St. George’s University. She holds a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Kentucky and received a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Eastern Kentucky University. She worked as a critical care dietitian for ten years prior to pursuing medical school. She is also a member of the Gender Equity Task Force and Sex and Nutrition and Medicine Working Group Committees within the American Medical Women’s Association. When she’s not studying, you can find her spending time with her husband and cats, using her Holga camera for experimental photography, lifting weights at the gym, playing board games, and reading science fiction novels.
Ariela Marshall, MD is a Harvard-trained physician and an internationally renowned advocate, career development advisor, and mentor. Dr. Marshall specializes in bleeding and clotting disorders, especially as they relate to women’s health. She has worked at Mayo Clinic and the University of Pennsylvania and currently practices part-time as a consultative hematologist at the University of Minnesota. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Marshall is a highly respected leader, mentor, and speaker. She is an active leader with the American Society of Hematology (where she led efforts to found the Women in Hematology Working Group and currently holds seats on the Women in Heme Working Group, Committee on Communications and Media Experts Subcommittee) and American Medical Women’s Association (leading the Infertility Working Group and holding seats on the Gender Equity Task Force). She is the Chief Innovation Officer at Women in Medicine and the Curriculum Chair at IGNITEMed, which are both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to promoting career development for women in medicine. She speaks regularly nationally and internationally to discuss her efforts to advance career development and mentorship for physicians, gender equity, fertility/infertility awareness, parental health and wellbeing, reproductive health and rights, and work-life integration.
Sources:
- DeWitt, D. E., McCabe, D. L., & Sande, M. A. (2019). Impact of physician gender on patient satisfaction and physician communication. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(2), 213-219. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8954154/
- Ganguli, I., Sheridan, B., Gray, J., Chernew, M., Rosenthal, M. B., & Neprash, H. (2020). Physician work hours and the gender pay gap—evidence from primary care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 383(14), 1349–1357. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa2013804
- Greenwood, B. N., Carnahan, S., & Huang, L. (2018). Patient-physician gender concordance and increased mortality among female heart attack patients. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(34), 8569–8574. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800097115
- Jefferson, L., Bloor, K., & Bland, M. (2013). Effect of physicians’ gender on communication and consultation length: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 18(4), 242–248. https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819613486465
- Miyawaki, A., Jena, A. B., Rotenstein, L. S., & Tsugawa, Y. (2023). Comparison of hospital mortality and readmission rates by physician and patient sex. Annals of Internal Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.7326/M23-3163
- Roter, D. L., Hall, J. A., & Aoki, Y. (2002). Physician gender effects in medical communication: A meta-analytic review. JAMA, 288(6), 756–764. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.6.756
- Roter, D. L., & Hall, J. A. (2004). Physician gender and patient-centered communication: A critical review of empirical research. Annual Review of Public Health, 25, 497–519. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.25.101802.123134
- Roter, D. L., Hall, J. A., & Katz, N. R. (1988). Patient-physician communication: A descriptive summary of the literature. Patient Education and Counseling, 12(2), 99–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/0738-3991(88)90057-2
- Sergeant, A., Saha, S., Shin, S., Weinerman, A., Kwan, J. L., Lapointe-Shaw, L., Tang, T., Hawker, G., Rochon, P. A., Verma, A. A., & Razak, F. (2021). Variations in processes of care and outcomes for hospitalized general medicine patients treated by female vs male physicians. JAMA Health Forum, 2(7), e211615. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.1615