Study: Preference of Women for Female Physicians Delays Colorectal Cancer Screenings

The preference of many women for a female physician may delay or prevent proper colorectal screenings due to a lack of female doctors in the field, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week.

Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

A study presented by researchers at the University of Michigan found that for colorectal screenings in particular, women patients' preference for a female health care professional is strong enough to delay the procedure as there is a lack of available female endoscopists.

In responses to a questionnaire given to 202 female patients between the ages of 40 and 70 at four primary care offices, 43 percent preferred a female endoscopist. Of those, 87 percent were willing to wait more than 30 days for the female and 14 percent were willing to pay additional costs for one. Five percent of respondents said they would not undergo the procedure unless guaranteed a female endoscopist.

"Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, so barriers to screening and other related challenges need to be addressed to improve care," said Dr. Bernard Levin of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Other Sources: Digestive Disease Week