GYNECOLOGIST’S GENDER AND OPINION REGARDING HYSTERECTOMY

O.H. Harmanli,* K. Brummitt,**  J.P. Gaughan,** V. Dandolu,** A.J. Chatwani,** E. Hernandez**

*  Baystate Medical Center, Western Campus of Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, MA

** Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

OBJECTIVE:  To assess the effect of the gynecologists’ gender and other demographic characteristics on their clinical opinions regarding hysterectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:  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 uterine sparing modality for the treatment of the presented case. The effects of gynecologists’ gender, 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: Of 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 gender (77.6% versus 87.1%, Odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [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 respondents. In the multivariate model, both of age and academic practice type remained independently significant.

CONCLUSIONS: When presented with a case involving symptomatic leiomyomas, the gynecologists’ gender did not significantly affect their opinion for or against hysterectomy. Only age and practice type were independently significant factors.

Key Words: hysterectomy, gynecologist gender, uterine leiomyoma

Disclosure – Nothing to disclose.