Gender analysis of the Spanish National Questionnaire on behaviors and attitudes of doctors towards their own illness and the management of sick colleagues (CAMAPE)

Ines Sebastian-Sanchez, Maria Pilar Astier-Peña, Barbara Marco-Gomez, Alba Gallego-Royo, Oscar Urbano-Gonzalo, Candela Perez-Alvarez, Maria Teresa Delgado-Marroquin, Rogelio Altisent-Trota

Keywords: Illness behaviors;Sick role;Physicians;Gender;Medical ethics

Introduction:

Physicians’ health is a key element for quality healthcare. Treating sick colleagues can be a complex process. Studies show differences by gender in dealing with their own health, the impact on work, and treating other colleagues.

Method:

Online 56 questions survey for Spanish registered doctors (residents, practicing and retired doctors). Bivariate analysis by sex was performed.

Results:

4,308 registered doctors (1,858 men and 2,450 women) answered.
Women were on average younger, single, and worked mainly in non-surgical specialties in the public sector while men were older, married, and worked more frequently in public-private practice.
The majority of doctors would invite a sick colleague to talk about their personal health problem in their surgery, treating them as any other patient. However, many female doctors treating a sick colleague would feel as taking an exam and felt unprepared to help a sick physician. Female doctors referred to hesitate more frequently on warning a sick colleague. More than half of the participants stated that they would prefer that sick doctors introduced themselves as doctors. Women tended to be registered with a GP and visited their GPs more often than men. A high percentage of doctors agreed that sick doctors should be treated by trained specialists and, particularly women, felt that heads of services should be involved in their management. Most doctors agreed that teamwork was essential for clinical safety. Nearly all doctors, especially women, agreed to state recommendations regarding doctors’ healthcare in the Spanish Medical Association’s Code of Deontology and Medical Ethics.

Conclusions:

Doctors, particularly women, request training and deontological recommendations about doctors’ health and dealing with sick colleagues. More studies with a gender perspective are needed to address these realities to improve the health of the medical profession.

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