Does equal education generate equal attitudes? Gender differences in medical students' attitudes toward the ideal physician.

BACKGROUND

Developing a patient-centered attitude is an important objective of medical education. Gender differences in students' patient-centered attitudes are also reported.

PURPOSES

Our study aims to measure (a) do gender differences and age differences exist in 1st- and 6th-year students' attitudes toward the ideal physician? and (b) what happens to gender differences in attitudes as students pass the medical curriculum?

METHODS

In 2004, attitudes of 1st-year and 6th-year medical students of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre are measured with the Ideal Physician Scale. Scores between groups are compared with t tests and univariate analysis of variance tests.

RESULTS

Although both male and female students' attitudes become more care-oriented as they pass through the curriculum, gender differences are still apparent.

CONCLUSIONS

Medical education does not differentially influence male and female students. Nevertheless, existing gender differences are reproduced. Equal education does not lead to equal attitudes.