Perceptions of practice among rural family physicians--is there a gender difference?

Abstract

Women physicians are relatively less likely to practice in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to describe differences in perceptions of rural practice between male and female physicians currently in rural practice. A questionnaire was developed from interviews with rural family physicians and mailed to 118 randomly selected board-certified family physicians in rural towns of the northwestern United States. Responses from 63 physicians were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Female family physicians were more likely than their male counterparts to agree they had been attracted by the availability of part-time work and by opportunities for their personal partner. Compared with men, women were more likely to expect to earn less in rural than in urban practice. On open-ended questions analyzed using qualitative methods, women were more likely to report discouragement by professional isolation and by potential lack of privacy in rural areas. These responses suggest that during recruitment efforts rural communities might be able to attract more female physicians by offering flexible schedules, spouse or partner opportunities, role boundaries, and professional or personal support networks.