[Is health service a good working place for female physicians?].

The author reviews the Scandinavian and English literature on the working environment and health of female physicians. Important themes are job satisfaction, stress and causes of stress, job-home interface (role strain) and suicide. While the results concerning job satisfaction vary, most studies show that, compared with their male colleagues, female physicians experience their work environment as more stressful, report work-related health problems more often and run higher risk of suicide. As in many other countries, the number of female physicians is increasing. 23% of all Norwegian physicians are women. A forthcoming survey among all physicians in Norway may provide better data and, it is hoped, better understanding of the observed differences between the two sexes.