[Patients' assessment of their general practitioners--the significance of physician gender and age].

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study was to examine to which extent the patients' assessment of their general practitioner was associated which the gender and age of the physician.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A survey among patients registered with the GPs assessing 23 aspects of the GP-patient relationship, medical care, information and support, organisation of care and accessibility. Analyses of associations between the assessments and the gender and age of the physicians.

RESULTS

A total of 703 doctors participated in the study. Assessments from 56,652 patients were included in the analyses (response rate 73.1%). We found that patients perceived male physicians as more accessible than their female colleagues. The younger doctors were assessed more positively than their older colleagues on certain aspects, but the numeric differences between the groups were minor.

CONCLUSION

Female general practitioners may benefit from paying more attention to the accessibility aspect. Older physicians may benefit from emphasizing their patients' need for participation, information and a sense of continuity.