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04/17/26

Gender bias in the clinical reasoning steps of medical students: a critical examination.

Le Boudec, Joana; Potarca, Gina; Félix, Sylvie; Schwarz, Joëlle; Guth, Margot; Clair, Carole. BMC Med Educ.

Collection Topics
Cognition and Decision Making Equity, Access, and Timeliness Health Professional Education
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Summary

Gender prejudice in medical education may affect student patient assessment and decision making. This Swiss study examines gender bias in male and female medical students' clinical reasoning for male and female standardized patients. Female patients were asked less about alcohol, work occupation, received fewer heart exams, and had increased prescription of lab tests. While the study didn't include non-binary or gender non conforming individuals, it is a provocative signal to how sexism pervades diagnostic care.

Read the paper
Le Boudec J, Potarca G, Félix S, et al. Gender bias in the clinical reasoning steps of medical students: a critical examination. BMC Med Educ. 2026;26(1):867.