PERCEIVED GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PHYSICIAN CONSULTING BEHAVIOR DURING INTERNAL EXAMINATION

Objective. Our aim was to investigate gender-related differences in co nsulting behaviour among family doctors in Belgium. Methods. The study was conducted among 32 family physicians and 303 patients. The family physician consulting behaviour was studied during consultations which included either an anal or a vaginal examination on three dimensions: a cure dimension, a care dimension and a dimension of consulting beha viour specific for consultations which included an internal examinatio n. Results. It was found that female family physicians were perceived by both male and female patients as showing more cure behaviour during consultations which included an anal examination. Female family docto rs were also perceived as showing significantly more cure behaviour, m ore care behaviour and more consulting behaviour specific for an inter nal examination during consultations which included a vaginal examinat ion. Furthermore, it was found that less-well-educated patients percei ved more care behaviour during consultations which included an anal ex amination than did better-educated patients. Finally, less-well-educat ed patients perceived more cure behaviour and more behaviour specific for an internal examination in their doctor's consulting behaviour dur ing consultations which included a vaginal examination.