Abstract
Implicit gender biases (IGB) are unconscious evaluations about a person based on gender. IGBs of healthcare providers may affect medical decision making. This study investigated whether IGBs, and genders of patients and general practitioners (GPs) influence diagnostics and treatment decisions in the context of diabetes type-2. Ninety-nine GPs participated in this randomized online study. Implicit Associations Tasks were used to measure two IGBs, related to lifestyle (women have a healthier lifestyle than men) and communication (men are less communicative than women). Clinical decisions regarding type-2 diabetes were measured with vignettes, that included a fictional male or female patient case. Female GPs exhibited a significant lifestyle IGB (p<.001). GPs of both genders exhibited a significant communication IGB (p<.001). Several associations between IGBs and clinical decisions were found. The gender of the vignette character affected several outcomes, e.g., GP's were less certain in the diabetes diagnosis when the character was a woman (p<.001). We demonstrated that GPs have IGBs and these biases as well as patient's gender affect decisions of GP's when they are solving a diabetes vignette case. Future research is needed to understand the most important consequences of IGBs in the context of type-2 diabetes.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
