Question

According to your text, which statement regarding male and female physicians' communication with their patients is TRUE?

A) Male physicians generally have poorer communication skills
B) Female physicians tend to speak less with their patients
C) There's no difference in communication between male and female physicians
D) Female physicians usually interrupt patients more frequently
E) Male physicians exhibit more empathy towards patients

Answer 1

Research shows that female physicians typically exhibit more empathy in their communication with patients than male physicians, demonstrating patient-centered communication and empathetic behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to research within the field of linguistic anthropology and gender studies, the statement regarding male and female physicians' communication with their patients that is most consistent with available research is that female physicians usually exhibit more empathy towards patients than male physicians. This conclusion is drawn from a body of work that includes the findings of West (1998), which indicates distinct patterns of speech and communication styles between genders. This research has shown that female physicians are more likely to engage in patient-centered communication and display empathetic behaviors. Moreover, the linguistic patterns of female physicians often include more affirmations and understanding, which can be interpreted as empathetic. In contrast, male doctors' speech has been found to be less likely to include these patient-centered and empathetic characteristics.