A12 EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PHYSICIAN OR PATIENT GENDER WITH REFERRAL PATTERNS IN GASTROENTEROLOGY FOR NON-SCREENING INDICATIONS

Background

Gender biases in referral may impact patient care, and may perpetuate gender-based pay inequities. Referral patterns of male and female patients to male and female gastroenterologists (GIs) have not been previously characterized.

Purpose

We aimed to determine the extent to which female patients referred for consultation to gastroenterologists were preferentially channeled to female practitioners, and to further assess how gender-based referral channeling has changed over time.

Method

We used data from IC/ES Ontario to identify all residents of Ontario, Canada who had had a new consultation with an Ontario gastroenterologist in an ambulatory setting between Jan 1, 2002, to Dec 31, 2019, with time subdivided into early (2002-2007), mid (2008-2013), and late (2014-2019) periods. New consults were defined as any GI consultation where there had been no ambulatory visit with a different GI in the two years prior. The primary outcome was the difference in the proportion of female patients seen by male GIs vs female GIs. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient and GI characteristics. Continuous variables were analyzed by the t-test, with p<0.05 suggestive of statistical significance. Odds ratios and their 95% CIs for the association of referral to a female GI and being a female patient were calculated.

Result(s)

From 2002 to 2019, the proportion of female gastroenterologists in Ontario increased from 15% (15/100) to 27% (78/292). During this 18-year period, female GIs saw a total of 17% of all consultations. Male GIs saw a greater number of consultations per year, though the gap closed over the period of observation. Specifically, each female GI in 2014-19 saw, on average, 776 patients (±41.8) compared to 578 (±59.2) in 2002-2007 (p<0.005) – a 34.5% increase; each male GI in 2014-2019 saw, on average, 905 patients (±7.2) compared to 824 (±25.0) in 2002-2007 (p<0.005) – a 9.8% increase.

Female patients made up 56.7% of the total consultations over 2002-2019. There was evidence of channeling of female patients to female providers; in the early period, 72.4% of consults seen by female GIs were female, compared to only 56.8% of consults seen by male GIs (OR 2.07, 95% CI [1.98, 2.17]. By the late era (2014-2019), 64.1% of consults seen by female GIs were for female patients, compared to 53.3% for male GIs (OR 1.62, 95% CI [1.59, 1.66].

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Conclusion(s)

There has been a significant increase in the number of female GIs in Ontario in recent years, and female GIs are seeing significantly greater patient volumes in the later eras in comparison to earlier eras. Female GIs receive a higher proportion of consultations for female patients, though this proportion is declining over time. The extent to which this gender-based referral channelling influences patient care, patient outcomes or influences the gender-based provider pay gap requires further exploration.

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The d 3Π state of LiRb

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OBJECTIVES

To assess the sexual- and drug-use-related risk behaviours of male juvenile detainees in Karachi, Pakistan.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

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RESULTS

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CONCLUSIONS

HIV risk behaviours are common among adolescent inmates. Although inmates do have knowledge about modes of transmission and condom use, the use of condoms is significantly low. Interventions are needed for behavioural change among this group.

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OBJECTIVE

To assess the level of knowledge regarding viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) among healthcare personnel at two largest tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODS

A cross sectional convenience survey was conducted in February 2001 among doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and janitors/orderlies of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital, Karachi. The questionnaire included demographic information with their designation and knowledge level regarding VHF management, spread and prevention. Frequencies of the answers to each question were calculated for all questions and scores were assigned. The frequencies were also calculated on the basis of the designation of the respondent so that each group could be examined separately.

RESULTS

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CONCLUSION

Differences in knowledge of different groups is obvious but it is essential to raise the knowledge regarding VHF at all levels including the housekeeping staff. There is also a need for continuing medical education (CME) for all health care personnel for the emerging health problems in Pakistan.

Outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Quetta, Pakistan: contact tracing and risk assessment

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