Effect of physician gender and specialty on utilization of hysterectomy in New York, 2001-2005. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008 Oct;199(4):347.e1-6
Date
07/22/2008Pubmed ID
18639208DOI
10.1016/j.ajog.2008.05.014Scopus ID
2-s2.0-52949135520 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 9 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of physician gender and specialty on the utilization of hysterectomy and alternatives to hysterectomy.
STUDY DESIGN: The database of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield was abstracted for all claims relating to a hysterectomy procedure or a hysterectomy-associated diagnosis during the 48 consecutive months May 2001-April 2005. Two hundred ninety-five thousand, one hundred forty-eight claim lines were abstracted and analyzed by CPT and diagnostic grouping codes.
RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred seventy-two hysterectomies were performed during the time analyzed, as well as 5077 hysterectomy alternatives. These 7049 procedures represented 2.4% of all coded physician encounters. Male physicians utilize hysterectomy and hysterectomy alternatives at the same rate as female physicians. Physicians who practice gynecology-only or gynecologic oncology utilize laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy more often than their counterparts who practice obstetrics as well as gynecology.
CONCLUSION: Gender does not influence the rate of hysterectomy for similar clinical diagnoses. Subspecialty physicians utilize laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomies more frequently than general obstetricians and gynecologists.
Author List
Gretz H, Bradley WH, Zakashansky K, Nezhat F, Bohren DL, Kreiger K, Rubin E, Sokolow AAuthor
William H. Bradley MD Professor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultFemale
Humans
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy, Vaginal
Insurance Claim Reporting
Laparoscopy
Male
New York
Physicians, Women
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Sex Factors
