Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26462960›Full record

ArticleBMC family practice2015

Does patient's sex influence treatment in primary care? Experiences and expressed knowledge among physicians--a qualitative study.

Desirée Loikas, Linnéa Karlsson, Mia von Euler, Karin Hallgren, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Pia Bastholm Rahmner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC family practice, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Desirée LoikasDepartment of Medicine, Solna Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. desiree.loikas@sll.se.
Linnéa KarlssonDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Gender Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. linnea.karlsson@ki.se.
Mia von EulerDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Gender Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. mia.von.euler@ki.se.
Karin HallgrenDepartment of Medicine, Solna Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. karinehallgren@hotmail.com.
Karin Schenck-GustafssonDepartment of Medicine, Centre for Gender Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Karin.Schenck-Gustafsson@ki.se.
Pia Bastholm RahmnerDepartment of Healthcare Development, The Health and Medical Care Administration, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. pia.bastholm-rahmner@sll.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiological and sociocultural differences between men and women may play an important role in medical treatment. Little is known about the awareness of these differences among general practitioners (GPs) and if they consider such differences in their medical practice. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' perception of sex and gender aspects in medical treatment.

methodsWe conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 29 physicians (mainly GPs) in Sweden. A discussion guide with semi-structured questions was used. All FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed word-by-word. Data were analysed through inductive thematic analysis with no predetermined categories.

resultsThree main categories emerged from the data. The first category emphasised GPs' experiences of sex and gender differences in diagnosing and assessment of clinical findings. Medical treatment in men and women was central in the second category. The third category emphasised GPs' knowledge of sex differences in drug therapy.

conclusionsThe GPs stated they had little knowledge of sex and gender differences in drug treatment, but gave multiple examples of how the patient's sex affects the choice of treatment. Sex and gender aspects were considered in diagnosing and in the treatment decision. However, once the decision to treat was made the choice of drug followed recommendations by local Drug and Therapeutics Committee, which were perceived to be evidence-based. In the analysis we found a gap between perceived and expressed knowledge of sex and gender differences in drug treatment indicating a need of education about this to be included in the curriculum in medical school and in basic and specialist training for physicians. Education could also be a tool to avoid stereotypical thinking about male and female patients.

Indexed as

PhysiciansPrimary Health CareSexismAdultAgedClinical CompetenceFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSex FactorsSwedenYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID26462960
PMCPMC4603906

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.