Gender concordance and its association with communication and the doctor-patient relationship: a systematic review

Background: Gender differences in medical practice have been widely recognized, being associated with diagnosis, treatment, and the overall patient experience. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for enhancing personalized medicine and improving healthcare outcomes, especially for women. Objective: This review explores the association of gender concordance or discordance between doctor and patient on key aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, including communication, trust, satisfaction, and preferences. Methods: This study conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. From a comprehensive search of databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science), 27 studies were included, and data on communication, trust, satisfaction, and patient preferences were extracted and summarized. Results: Results suggest that gender concordance is generally associated with better communication and trust, especially for women, although some studies found no significant association. Patient satisfaction varied, with some studies indicating gender concordance association with better satisfaction, while others found it either neutral or detrimental, particularly in certain doctor-patient dyads. Preferences for doctor gender were more pronounced in women, particularly regarding comfort and communication on sensitive health issues. Conclusion: While gender concordance is often associated with better communication, particularly in sensitive health areas, some studies report mixed results, suggesting that other factors like the doctor's communication style and patient expectations also play a significant role. The review underscores the importance of considering gender dynamics in healthcare, but also calls for further research to confirm these results. Future studies should also examine gender concordance across different medical specialties to better understand its role in healthcare outcomes.