Medical Sexism and the Effect on Female Cardiology

Date of Award

8-1-2024

Degree Name

Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations

Department

Department of Educational Administration

Advisor/Chair

Meredith Wronowski

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer of women in America, yet barriers to lifesaving healthcare increase (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Incidence of sexism in medicine proves to be a leading cause of these barriers including underrepresentation of female patients in crucial research studies, lack of understanding and education of female specific cardiac symptoms, and the underutilization of advanced diagnostic imaging tests for female patients who could produce suboptimal results in lesser diagnostic testing causing misdiagnosis. Feminist critical theories were used to challenge the gender gap within the medical field and research along with the communities of practice theory, showing how embedded sexism to the medical field creates an unconscious social learning upholding norms. Practical action research was used to conduct this study due to the direct connection between testing and diagnosis of patients, having the potential to make an impact on patient care on a larger scale. Research was conducted utilizing HIPAA compliant cardiology patient data obtained to observe the ordering patterns of physicians within cardiology practices. An anonymous Physicians’ Knowledge of PET Eligibility and Symptoms for Female Patients scale survey was used to collect data from practicing cardiologists to view opinions, attitudes, and education around female specific cardiac symptoms. This data was analyzed using Chi-square tests to understand the relationship between various factors such as qualifying ICD-10 (diagnosis) codes, sex of the patient, and qualification for a cardiac PET scan. The results show that there was no significant relationship between sex and if the patient qualified for a cardiac PET scan, showing that physicians have a lack of understanding of the incredible benefits of cardiac PET for female patients, who are exceptional candidates for PET due to attenuation artifacts. Results also show a positive statistical relationship between the ICD-10 (diagnosis) code that was used, the sex of the patient, and whether they qualified for a cardiac PET. These results show the importance of physicians understanding specific female symptoms to utilize for the qualification of advanced diagnostic imaging. The RE-AIM model was applied to create an implementation plan for the change goals for the cardiology practices. The logic model identifies the tasks, needed resources, and objectives of both intervention goals. The first goal is to develop and then include female specific symptom education into CDI’s mandatory education for physicians and cardiology practices to increase knowledge. The second goal is to promote female specific cardiac education during American Heart Health month at participating hospitals and practices. By increasing the knowledge of female specific cardiac symptoms, as well as identifying areas in which sexism are causing barriers to access to healthcare, female patients will be able to be diagnosed and treated more accurately and successfully.

Keywords

Cardiac PET; Female cardiac patients; Systemic Sexism; Female cardiac PET patients; Physician knowledge; Medical sexism

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2024, author.

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