Effect of Physician Gender on Demand for Pap Tests

Tsui-Fang Lin,Jennjou Chen

doi:10.1155/2014/647169

Tsui-Fang Lin, Jennjou Chen

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/647169

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Abstract

People’s demand for preventive medical care is one type of investment in health. The aim of this paper is to examine women’s demand for secondary prevention in Taiwan, focusing on the role a physician’s gender plays in women’s inclination to undergo Pap tests. Our estimation results show that regional ratio of female doctors has a positive and significant effect on utilization of Pap tests for the full sample and for women aged below 30. In addition, doctor’s gender matters only in utilization of Pap tests not in other types of preventive healthcare services in Taiwan. We suggest that the government may consider liberalizing medical laws to make it legal for trained female nurses or nurse practitioners to perform Pap tests in order to encourage the utilization of Pap tests, especially in rural and mountain areas. The government may also consider subsidizing the use of cervical cancer vaccines to help females prevent cervical cancer.

Highlights

Prevention has played an increasingly important role in today’s health economy as most countries face the challenge of curbing fast growing medical expenditures
Preventive medical care generally consists of primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention
We find that regional ratio of female OB/GYNs has a positive and significant effect on utilization of Pap tests for the full sample and for women aged below 30

Summary

Introduction

Prevention has played an increasingly important role in today’s health economy as most countries face the challenge of curbing fast growing medical expenditures. Public sanitation, and public health promotion programs reduces the occurrence or incidence of diseases. Secondary prevention referring to an array of clinical screening services for certain diseases and illnesses detects diseases earlier, treats diseases earlier, and produces better health outcomes given the occurrence of diseases. Tertiary prevention such as disease wellness and educational programs aims to avoid further medical complication. Demand for preventive health services, similar to the roles which curative care and healthy lifestyles play in the health production function [1], is one type of investments in health

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