Women's Priorities Regarding Physician Behavior and Their Preference for a Female Physician

Studies report that women have diverging preferences for physician gender. The present study explores some aspects of how women's preferences for physician gender are formed. Using data from a postal survey among Norwegian women, the association between preferences for physician gender and women's priorities regarding physician behavior is examined. Women who, in particular, value their physicians' democratic attitudes tend to prefer female physicians, in contrast to those who prefer a more dominating physician role. Surprisingly, women who especially emphasize the caring qualities of their physicians, do not have strong preferences for a female physician.