Unique perspective of Muslim patients on gender preference for gastrointestinal endoscopists: a multicenter survey

Background and Aims

Patient preference for a healthcare professional is mediated by the physician gender. The primary aim was to assess the gender preference for an endoscopist in a cohort of Muslim patients. The secondary aim was to identify factors that influence gender preference.

Methods

This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted at 3 tertiary-care hospitals in Pakistan. Consecutive patients scheduled for elective outpatient upper endoscopy or colonoscopy were asked to complete a questionnaire immediately before and after the procedure. Data collected included patient demographics, occupation, education level, procedure type, gender preference, and reason for preference.

Results

A total of 1078 patients completed the questionnaire (43.5 ± 15.8 years; 53.2% males). Upper endoscopy was the most frequent procedure, performed in 84% of patients. Gender preference was expressed by 707 (65.6%) patients, of which 511 (72.3%) were willing to wait for an average of 7 days for an endoscopist of the preferred gender. Male patients’ preferences (45.1% male endoscopist, 17.1% female endoscopist, 37.8% no preference) differed from female participants’ (16.9% male endoscopist, 52.6% female endoscopist, and 30.5% no preference), p < 0.00001. No education was associated with having a gender preference (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.81; p = 0.003). Reasons for gender preference included religious values and family pressure, which were more frequently expressed by females (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Most Muslims in Pakistan expressed a gender preference, and both female and male patients showed a preference for a same-gender endoscopist. No education was associated with having a gender preference.

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