Patient sex role and preference for a male or female physician.

A study was undertaken to test whether a patient's sex role, as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory, is associated with preference for a male or female physician. One hundred ninety-three patients completed a physician preference survey and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Thirty-six percent of patients preferred a physician of a specific sex. For women, sex role was associated with preference for a female physician (chi 2 = 16.14, P less than .01). Women with an androgynous sex role who gave a preference always chose a female physician; three fourths of women with an undifferentiated sex role who gave a preference always chose a female physician. Regardless of sex role, men who gave a preference always chose a male physician. For women, these findings support the hypothesis that sex role is associated with preference for a female physician.