Further study finds surgical patients are at lower risk if their doctor is female
A new study suggests that people undergoing certain surgeries may be safer in hospitals where women make up at least a third of the surgical team, and that female doctors are more likely to treat patients than male doctors. It adds to an already growing body of research suggesting that outcomes may be better.
of latest researchThe paper, published Wednesday in the British Journal of Surgery, examines gender diversity in hospital settings and serious postoperative health complications, including death during the first three months of recovery, in Canadian surgical patients. We specifically investigated the relationship between the incidence of
Researchers looked at 709,899 non-emergency, major inpatient procedures at 88 different hospitals between 2009 and 2019. Overall, they found that morbidity (usually defined in medical terms as problems arising from a procedure or treatment) occurred in 14.4% of patients in the 90 days immediately following surgery.
Hospitals where more than 35% of staff surgeons and anesthesiologists were women were significantly less likely to die or suffer serious postoperative complications during this period. The study found that compared to hospitals with fewer women in these roles, patients in these settings were 3% less likely to develop a serious illness.
In general, the median number of female surgeons and anesthesiologists on hospital staff was nowhere near the standard that researchers determined was optimal for patient success (only 28% per hospital per year).
Of particular significance, the researchers say, the odds of serious postoperative complications and death within months after surgery were reduced, especially among patients who underwent surgery with a female surgeon or female anesthesiologist as the direct provider. emphasized.
“These findings are important for optimizing patient outcomes and quality care by intentionally building diverse teams,” the researchers wrote.
This study is not alone in its findings.Last year, another study was published in the journal JAMA surgery Patients who underwent emergency or elective surgery between 2007 and 2019 were at risk of dying, being readmitted to the hospital, or having serious health complications within a year after surgery if they had any of the following symptoms: It turns out that the chances of getting sick are low. Treatment by a female surgeon. The study looked at more than 1 million cases, and the results were consistent regardless of individual patient characteristics, the type of surgery they had, who their anesthesiologist was, or which hospital they were in during the procedure. was doing.
Researchers have been trying to unravel the apparent patterns for years.A group at Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health conducted research A study was conducted from 2011 to 2014 that aimed to address the question of whether treatment by female doctors is more effective for patients' health.
The Harvard study looked at more than 1 million Medicaid recipients who were hospitalized and treated by general physicians for strokes, heart attacks, and other relatively common conditions. Patients treated by female doctors had a 4% lower risk of dying within 30 days and a 5% lower risk of being readmitted during the same period compared to patients treated by male doctors.
Dr. Ashish Jha, currently dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and previously professor of health policy and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said that when the study was published in 2016, the results told CBS News that this suggests the need for further research. To understand what women physicians are doing to improve patient outcomes. He said the study's authors, all men, were “interested in understanding more fully why these differences exist, but we don't yet know why.”
Summarize this content to 100 words A new study suggests that people undergoing certain surgeries may be safer in hospitals where women make up at least a third of the surgical team, and that female doctors are more likely to treat patients than male doctors. It adds to an already growing body of research suggesting that outcomes may be better.of latest researchThe paper, published Wednesday in the British Journal of Surgery, examines gender diversity in hospital settings and serious postoperative health complications, including death during the first three months of recovery, in Canadian surgical patients. We specifically investigated the relationship between the incidence of Researchers looked at 709,899 non-emergency, major inpatient procedures at 88 different hospitals between 2009 and 2019. Overall, they found that morbidity (usually defined in medical terms as problems arising from a procedure or treatment) occurred in 14.4% of patients in the 90 days immediately following surgery.
Hospitals where more than 35% of staff surgeons and anesthesiologists were women were significantly less likely to die or suffer serious postoperative complications during this period. The study found that compared to hospitals with fewer women in these roles, patients in these settings were 3% less likely to develop a serious illness. In general, the median number of female surgeons and anesthesiologists on hospital staff was nowhere near the standard that researchers determined was optimal for patient success (only 28% per hospital per year).
Of particular significance, the researchers say, the odds of serious postoperative complications and death within months after surgery were reduced, especially among patients who underwent surgery with a female surgeon or female anesthesiologist as the direct provider. emphasized.”These findings are important for optimizing patient outcomes and quality care by intentionally building diverse teams,” the researchers wrote.This study is not alone in its findings.Last year, another study was published in the journal JAMA surgery Patients who underwent emergency or elective surgery between 2007 and 2019 were at risk of dying, being readmitted to the hospital, or having serious health complications within a year after surgery if they had any of the following symptoms: It turns out that the chances of getting sick are low. Treatment by a female surgeon. The study looked at more than 1 million cases, and the results were consistent regardless of individual patient characteristics, the type of surgery they had, who their anesthesiologist was, or which hospital they were in during the procedure. was doing.Researchers have been trying to unravel the apparent patterns for years.A group at Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health conducted research A study was conducted from 2011 to 2014 that aimed to address the question of whether treatment by female doctors is more effective for patients' health.
The Harvard study looked at more than 1 million Medicaid recipients who were hospitalized and treated by general physicians for strokes, heart attacks, and other relatively common conditions. Patients treated by female doctors had a 4% lower risk of dying within 30 days and a 5% lower risk of being readmitted during the same period compared to patients treated by male doctors.Dr. Ashish Jha, currently dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and previously professor of health policy and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said that when the study was published in 2016, the results told CBS News that this suggests the need for further research. To understand what women physicians are doing to improve patient outcomes. He said the study's authors, all men, were “interested in understanding more fully why these differences exist, but we don't yet know why.”
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Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news with a focus on crime and extreme weather. Emily May has written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, and Newsweek.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/surgery-patients-fewer-health-risks-dying-complications-women-doctors/ Further study finds surgical patients are at lower risk if their doctor is female
