• Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden, Lena Stöllinger, Alexander Avian, András Terebessy, Anna M Scott, Sven Streit, Giuliano Piccoliori, Erika Zelko, Sebastian Huter, Karola Mergenthal, Herbert Bachler, Maria Flamm, and Andrea Siebenhofer.
• Institute for General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
• J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Jun 1; 38 (8): 189419011894-1901.

BackgroundThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gender-specific differences between general practitioners in adapting to the posed challenges. As primary care workforce is becoming increasingly female, in many countries, it is essential to take a closer look at gender-specific influences when the global health care system is confronted with a crisis.ObjectiveTo explore gender-specific differences in the perceived working conditions and gender-specific differences in challenges facing GPs at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.DesignOnline survey in seven countries.Participants2,602 GPs from seven countries (Austria, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia). Of the respondents, 44.4% (n = 1,155) were women.Main MeasuresOnline survey. We focused on gender-specific differences in general practitioners' perceptions of working conditions at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.Key ResultsFemale GPs rated their skills and self-confidence significantly lower than male GPs (f: 7.1, 95%CI: 6.9-7.3 vs. m: 7.6, 95%CI 7.4-7.8; p < .001), and their perceived risk (concerned about becoming infected or infecting others) higher than men (f: 5.7, 95%CI: 5.4-6.0 vs. m: 5.1, 95%CI: 4.8-5.5; p = .011). Among female GPs, low self-confidence in the treatment of COVID-19 patients appear to be common. Results were similar in all of the participating countries.ConclusionsFemale and male GPs differed in terms of their self-confidence when dealing with COVID-19-related issues and their perceptions of the risks arising from the pandemic. To ensure optimal medical care, it is important that GPs realistically assess their own abilities and overall risk.© 2023. The Author(s).

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