Gendered Perceptions in Healthcare: Overcoming subtle biases

The chapter identifies gender bias in healthcare. More specifically discussed are the biases that cause problems for female providers and what solutions are needed. Female providers are caught in a Catch 22, necessitating solutions from all constituents to manage associated consequences such as the quality of patient care and law suits. This chapter identifies gender bias in healthcare. More specifically discussed are the biases that cause problems for female providers and what solutions are needed. The model of the provider-patient interaction has changed from a purely biomedical model to a patient- or relationship-centered approach. The model was paternalistic, and care focused on physical symptoms and disease treatment. In addition to this new medical model, the medical community has also seen significant demographic changes in its healthcare providers. Alice Eagly's Role Congruity Theory provides a model for how provider and provider gender might interact to influence patient perceptions. Decades of research have demonstrated gender differences in actual provider behavior. Perceptions of confidence and competence are also associated with behaviors differently for male and female providers. Medical education and communication training for medical professionals largely takes a "one-size-fits-all" approach.