Dataset Information

Gender-based differential management of acute low back pain in the emergency department: A survey based on a clinical vignette.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women may receive suboptimal pain management compared with men, and this disparity might be related to gender stereotypes.

Objectives

To assess the influence of patient gender on the management of acute low back pain.

Design

We assessed pain management by 231 physicians using an online clinical vignette describing a consultation for acute low back pain in a female or male patient. The vignette was followed by a questionnaire that assessed physicians' management decisions and their gender stereotypes.

Methods

We created an online clinical vignette presenting a patient with acute low back pain and assessed the influence of a patient's gender on pain management. We investigated gender-related stereotyping regarding pain care by emergency physicians using the Gender Role Expectation of Pain questionnaire.

Results

Both male and female physicians tended to consider that a typical man was more sensitive to pain, had less pain endurance, and was more willing to report pain than a typical woman. These stereotypes did not translate into significant differences in pain management between men and women. However, women tended to be referred less often for imaging examinations than men and were also prescribed lower doses of ibuprofen and opioids. The physician's gender had a modest influence on management decisions, female physicians being more likely to prescribe ancillary examinations.

Conclusion

We observed gender stereotypes among physicians. Our findings support the hypothesis that social characteristics attributed to men and women influence pain management. Prospective clinical studies are needed to provide a deeper understanding of gender stereotypes and their impact on clinical management.

SUBMITTER: Schilter LV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10826390 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Gender-based differential management of acute low back pain in the emergency department: A survey based on a clinical vignette.

Schilter Léa V LV Le Boudec Joana Ae JA Hugli Olivier O Locatelli Isabella I Staeger Phillippe P Della Santa Vincent V Frochaux Vincent V Rutschmann Olivier O Bieler Sandra S Ribordy Vincent V Fournier Yvan Y Decosterd Dumeng D Clair Carole C

Women's health (London, England) 20240101

<h4>Background</h4>Women may receive suboptimal pain management compared with men, and this disparity might be related to gender stereotypes.<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess the influence of patient gender on the management of acute low back pain.<h4>Design</h4>We assessed pain management by 231 physicians using an online clinical vignette describing a consultation for acute low back pain in a female or male patient. The vignette was followed by a questionnaire that assessed physicians' management d ...[more]

PMID: 38282544

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a frequent reason for emergency department (ED) presentations, with a global prevalence of 4.4%. Despite being common, the number of clinical trials investigating LBP in the ED is low. Recruitment of patients in EDs can be challenging because of the fast-paced and demanding ED environment.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to describe the recruitment and response rates using an SMS text messaging and web-based survey system supplemented by telephone calls to recruit patients with LBP and collect health outcomes in the ED.MethodsAn automated SMS text messaging system was integrated into Research Electronic Data Capture and used to collect patient-reported outcomes for an implementation trial in Sydney, Australia. We invited patients with nonserious LBP who presented to participating EDs at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after ED discharge. Patients who did not respond to the initial SMS text message invitation were sent a reminder SMS text message or contacted via telephone. The recruitment rate was measured as the proportion of patients who agreed to participate, and the response rate was measured as the proportion of participants completing the follow-up surveys at weeks 2 and 4. Regression analyses were used to explore factors associated with response rates.ResultsIn total, 807 patients with nonserious LBP were invited to participate and 425 (53.0%) agreed to participate. The week 1 survey was completed by 51.5% (416/807) of participants. At week 2, the response rate was 86.5% (360/416), and at week 4, it was 84.4% (351/416). Overall, 60% of the surveys were completed via SMS text messaging and on the web and 40% were completed via telephone. Younger participants and those from less socioeconomically disadvantaged areas were more likely to respond to the survey via the SMS text messaging and web-based system.ConclusionsUsing an SMS text messaging and web-based survey system supplemented by telephone calls is a viable method for recruiting patients with LBP and collecting health outcomes in the ED. This hybrid system could potentially reduce the costs of using traditional recruitment and data collection methods (eg, face-to-face, telephone calls only).International registered report identifier (irrid)RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019052.

Dataset Information

Gender-based differential management of acute low back pain in the emergency department: A survey based on a clinical vignette.

Background

Objectives

Design

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Gender-based differential management of acute low back pain in the emergency department: A survey based on a clinical vignette.

Similar Datasets

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