Canadian study links female physicians to improved patient outcomes

A large-scale study involving approximately 960,000 hospitalized patients in Canada suggests that being treated by female physicians is associated with a reduced risk of death and hospital readmission.

Led by researchers from the University of Toronto and ICES, the study analyzed data from patients hospitalized for seven common conditions, including pneumonia and acute myocardial infarction, between 2008 and 2022. The findings indicated that patients treated by female physicians had a 30-day mortality rate of 12.3 percent, compared to 13.7 percent for those treated by male physicians. Additionally, the rate of hospital readmission was slightly lower for patients under the care of female doctors.

Dr. Angela Jerath, a lead researcher from the University of Toronto, noted that the study expands previous research which primarily focused on surgical patients. The researchers aim to identify clinical behaviors that can improve healthcare delivery across the system, suggesting that increased exposure to female physicians during a hospital stay was associated with a 7 percent lower likelihood of death within 30 days.