[Do physicians' gender and workload affect patients?].

BACKGROUND

The article discusses the effect of general practitioners' gender and workload on patients' experience with consultation time, waiting hours, use of out-of-hours services and planned health visits.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were retrieved from the 2003 version of Statistics Norway's household panel study (5000 persons) and the National Insurance administration's register of regular general practitioners.

RESULTS

Health condition was the most important factor related to patient experiences. A high workload was neither associated with more frequent use of out-of-hours services nor satisfaction with time spent in consultation. These results apply to physicians of both genders. Patients who used a female physician with a large workload had to wait longer for an appointment and more often reported dissatisfaction with the waiting time; this was not the case for male physicians. However, male physicians with a low workload had shorter waiting times.

INTERPRETATION

Patients who use practitioners with a high workload may have chosen their doctor more deliberately than others, which may be an explanation for few negative outcomes for physicians with a high workload. It is unlikely that these physicians would be as popular if the patients had fewer appointments, shorter consultations or more often had to use the out-of-hours services. Longer waiting time for appointments with female doctors may be related to more part time work, and the fact that female physicians more often are engaged in group practices.