Gender inequalities in COPD decision-making in primary care.

Background: COPD is a frequent severe illness that increasingly affects females. Gender inequalities have been reported in COPD care.

Objective: To analyze decision-making in primary care for men and women with identical COPD as a function of the gender of the family physician (FP).

[Referrals and sex of physicians and patients: a gender analysis, Andalussia, Spain].

Background: It has been identified differences of medical care practice in primary care related to physician's sex. Simultaneously, there are gender inequalities in the assignment of health resources. Both aspects give rise to an increasing growing interest in the management and provision of health services.

[Patient expectations about decision-making for various health problems].

Objectives: To identify patient expectations of clinical decision-making at consultations with their general practitioners for distinct health problems and to determine the patient and general practitioner characteristics related to these expectations, with special focus on gender.

Methods: We performed a multicenter cross-sectional study in 360 patients who were interviewed at home. Data on patients' sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and satisfaction were gathered.