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Gendered Uncertainty and Variation in Physicians' Decisions for Coronary Heart Disease: The Double-Edged Sword of 'Atypical Symptoms'
- Source :
-
Journal of Health and Social Behavior . Sep 2012 53(3):313-328. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Nonmedical factors and diagnostic certainty contribute to variation in clinical decision making, but the process by which this occurs remains unclear. We examine how physicians' interpretations of patient sex-gender affect diagnostic certainty and, in turn, decision making for coronary heart disease. Data are from a factorial experiment of 256 physicians who viewed 1 of 16 video vignettes with different patient-actors presenting the same symptoms of coronary heart disease. Physician participants completed a structured interview and provided a narrative about their decision-making processes. Quantitative analysis showed that diagnostic uncertainty reduces the likelihood that physicians will order tests and medications appropriate for an urgent cardiac condition in particular. Qualitative analysis revealed that a subset of physicians applied knowledge that women have "atypical symptoms" as a generalization, which engendered uncertainty for some. Findings are discussed in relation to social-psychological processes that underlie clinical decision making and the social framing of medical knowledge. (Contains 3 notes, 1 table and 1 figure.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022-1465
- Volume :
- 53
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Journal of Health and Social Behavior
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ978126
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146512456026