[Gender-specific Aspects of Knowledge and Gender Sensitivity in Medical Education - An Inventory]. / Geschlechtsspezifisches Wissen und Gendersensibilität in der medizinischen Lehre - eine Bestandsaufnahme.

BACKGROUND: Gender competence is an essential prerequisite for individualized patient care. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to survey the level of knowledge and attitudes towards gender-related aspects at 2 German medical schools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was used to collect data on gender competence in medicine including biological basics of sex differences, clinical aspects, socio-cultural factors as well as questions regarding gender role concepts. In total 1 671 students, 330 basic scientists, 413 physicians and 53 professors from the German Medical Schools Münster and Duisburg-Essen took part in the survey. RESULTS: The level of knowledge on gender-specific aspects in medicine is unsatisfactory at both medical schools. The average of correct answers on gender-related questions of all groups is less than 55%. Looking at gender sensitivity the existence and importance of gender disparities in medicine is agreed upon by the majority of participants. However, most of them regard only the patients' but not the physician's sex as relevant. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals a lack of knowledge and the necessity for improvement: the integration of gender-specific aspects into medical routine is an important step towards a truly individualized medical care.

[Why medicine? Analyzing students' motives for studying medicine]. / Warum Medizin studieren?

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing numbers of physicians, shortage of doctors is a predominant problem in the German health care system. AIM: AIM of the present study is a detailed and gendered analysis of current motives to study medicine in order to deduce implications for securing medical care in the future. METHODS: Study motives of medical students from Duisburg-Essen and Muenster were assessed using an online questionnaire. 13 given motives had to be rated on a 5 point Likert-scale according to their relevance for the decision to study medicine. Descriptive analysis regarding age, gender, location and study period was performed and a dichotomization of data (agreement vs. disagreement) was undertaken for logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 1545 medical students took part in the survey (64.5% female). "Many-faceted workspaces", "varied tasks", "helping patients", "scientific interest" and "good career prospects" - backward-sorted - were the most frequent study motives indicated by medical students. The aspect "helping patients" was more important to female than to male students, the latter rated career-associated motives e. g. income, reputation etc. as more relevant. Only for about 8% of the respondents - independently of gender - compatibility of job and family was a motive to study medicine. CONCLUSION: Perspectively, results of this study could help to shape medicine in a way that will appeal to the growing up generation of doctors: a sophisticated, demanding and fulfilling occupation compatible with family with options to carve out a career for those who want to - regardless of gender. Furthermore, coaching programs paralleling either medical studies or work as clinician should be considered to improve the matching of gender-specific study motives and careers.