NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Female primary care doctors spend more time on average with their patients and are more likely than their male counterparts to inquire about emotions, family and work, but the effect of this type of communication style on patients' health is not clear, researchers conclude.

Their study found that female physicians spend an average of 2 minutes or 10% longer with patients (23 minutes versus 21 minutes). Visits with female doctors were characterized by more psychologically focused talk, more social conversation and more encouragement and positive feedback.

Female physicians were also more likely to give positive nonverbal cues to patients, such as smiling and nodding, according to the report in the August 14th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Taken together, the differences reflect a patient-centered communication style that inspires patient reciprocation and is likely to reflect a more intimate therapeutic milieu of heightened engagement, comfort, and partnership," Dr. Deborah L. Roter, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health.

Previous studies, she notes, have linked doctors' communication skills to patient satisfaction, better compliance with medication and therapy and improved physical and mental health. But it is too soon, she said, to conclude that patients of female doctors fare better in the long run.

Indeed, male obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYN) were more likely to engage in emotional talk than their female counterparts, possibly as a result of the growing number of female competitors, the study found. Surveys have shown a strong preference for female physicians in gynecologic and obstetric care, and male physicians may improve their communication style as a way to compete.

"Emotionally focused talk reflects increased empathy, concern reassurance, and increased levels of emotional talk may reflect special effort to establish rapport and connect emotionally with patients," said Roter, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

There were no gender differences when it came to discussion about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Studies have shown that in general, women disclose more information about themselves, encourage others to open up, and have a warmer style of communication than men. To investigate gender differences in regard to communication with patients, Roter and colleagues reviewed 26 studies, most of which relied on a neutral party to analyze physician/patient interaction via audiotape, videotape or direct observation.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;288:756-764.

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