New research suggests patients achieve improved results when treated by female surgeons.
In a cohort study of one million patients, those treated by a female surgeon were less likely to experience death, hospital readmission or significant medical complications at 90 days or one year after surgery.
This association was seen across nearly all subgroups defined by patient, procedure, surgeon, anaesthesiologist and hospital characteristics.
The research aimed to determine if a link exists between the gender of a surgeon and the long-term outcomes after surgery.
It also found that techniques, speed and levels of risk adversity seemingly shaped outcomes.
In the past, studies have indicated that female surgeons tend to achieve more favourable patient outcomes compared to their male counterparts in the short term.
This phenomenon can be attributed to various factors, such as variations in communication patterns, approaches to medical practice and the dynamics of the physician-patient relationship.
Additionally, their medical practices could have distinct qualitative aspects, extending to how they choose and interact with their patients.
With this new study, researchers felt it was essential to understand whether observations regarding the association between surgeon sex and surgical outcomes persist over a longer term – a critical step in evaluating the broader implications of diversifying surgical practice in health care delivery.
It suggests female surgeons tend to operate more slowly and may achieve better results by taking their time in the operating theatre.
These findings further support differences in patient outcomes based on physician sex that warrant deeper study regarding underlying causes and potential solutions, the authors say.
In another study conducted in Sweden, researchers examined the post-surgery outcomes of patients who underwent gallbladder removal procedures.
Their findings revealed that patients who were attended to by female surgeons experienced fewer complications and enjoyed shorter hospital stays compared to those treated by their male counterparts.
In the review of 150,000 patients, the female surgeons operated more slowly than male colleagues and were less likely to switch from keyhole to open surgery during an operation.
Dr My Blohm and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, concluded their findings might contribute to an increased understanding of gender differences within this surgical specialty.
In an accompanying commentary, Sweden’s Skane University Hospital surgeon Martin Almquist noted that evidence has suggested that female surgeons are more likely to use patient-centred decision-making, more willing to collaborate, and more carefully select patients for surgery.
He argues that these differences might translate into different outcomes for female and male surgeons and that studying such differences can give important insights into how to avoid adverse outcomes.
The proportion of female surgeons is increasing and more women than men are now entering medical school.
