Evolving attitudes

[One of the authors responds:]

Dr. McNevin addresses the question of whether physicians hold more stereotypical views of the role of women than do other health care professionals, or the public. I share his interest in the question, and his belief that medical education must address diversity and minimize patriarchy. Our study [1] did not, however, attempt to answer this question. Instead, we examined the association between medical education and changes in stereotypical thinking, willingness to control decision-making of female patients and conceptualization of women as other or abnormal because they were women. We did not compare beliefs with those of any external group, nor did we attempt to state absolutely whether students were, for example, feminist or patriarchal. Only relative changes among the students themselves, over time, were described.

Portions of the sex role ideology scale were extracted and used in our questionnaire, as were questions from several other validated and nonvalidated survey instruments (these are cited in our article, as is Kalin and Tilby's scale). As researchers, a major challenge we faced was finding a survey that would address all aspects of our study and elicit truthful rather than socially desirable responses. Pilot testing was invaluable in helping us to create the questionnaire we ultimately used.

McNevin's willingness to learn from and work with patients, rather than control them, exemplifies attitudes I believe are positively transforming the pedagogy and practice of medicine.

Susan P. Phillips, MD

Department of Family Medicine; Queen's University; Kingston, Ont.