Factors related to women's preferences for OBGYN care providers: An explanatory survey

Utilizing a framework of systems theory, this study was done to determine the preferences of a group of women for the health professional composition of ambulatory OBGYN care provider groups and to relate these preferences to a variety of client‐related factors. A random sample of 300 women employed at an insurance company received an explanatory survey developed by the researcher (N = 157). Respondents tended to utilize the OBGYN care groups that they preferred. Private OBGYN care groups composed of male OBGYN physicians tended to be the preferred and utilized groups for the majority of respondents. Women who had previously received care from women providers or nurse practitioners tended to prefer these providers, while women who had not previously received care from these practitioners tended not to include them in their preferences. Certain statistically significant relationships between selected client‐related factors and respondents’ preferences resulted in specific suggestions for nursing practice.