Abdominal Hysterectomy - Vaginal Hysterectomy - Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

J Reprod Med. 2006 Jan;51(1):21-5

Gynecologists' attitudes toward hysterectomy: is the sex of the clinician a factor?

Authors:

Brummitt K,Harmanli OH,Gaughan J,Dandolu V,Chatwani AJ,Hernandez E.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of gynecologists' sex on their clinical opinions of hysterectomy.

Study Design:

A survey presenting a case of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas was randomly mailed to the fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who were asked to choose either hysterectomy or any uterus-sparing modality for the treatment of the presented case. The effects of gynecologists' sex, age, race, type and year of training, practice type, location and region on their clinical opinions were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results:

Among the 500 potential respondents, 245 (49.0%) responses were complete for analysis. One hundred forty-seven (60.0%) were males, and 98 (40.0%) were females. Hysterectomy choice was not significantly influenced by the gynecologist's sex (77.6% vs. 87.1%; OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.26, 1.01). Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that only younger age and being in an academic practice significantly decreased the hysterectomy choice among the participants. In the multivariate model, both age (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.27, 2.19) and academic practice type (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.14, 0.94) remained independently significant.

Conclusion:

When presented with a case involving symptomatic leiomyomas, gynecologists' sex did not significantly affect their opinion for or against hysterectomy. Only age and practice type were independently significant in this decision making.

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