Preventive Care for Women -- Does the Sex of the Physician Matter?

The growing consensus among the public and the scientific community that women's health issues have been neglected has kindled unprecedented interest in the quality and quantity of health care that women receive 1 . In response, Congress and others have increased their emphasis on ensuring women's access to appropriate medical care, including preventive services. Rates of screening for breast and cervical cancer are considered important markers of access to and quality of health care by both government and private-sector agencies. Many factors affect women's cancer-screening rates, among them the sociodemographic characteristics of the target population 2 ; knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about . . .