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Candidate:
Victoria S. Curtis
Degree
of: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Sociology
Title: Women and Heart Disease: A Comparative Analysis Between Osteopathic and Allopathic Rural Michigan Physician's Medical Approaches Taken To Diagnosing Female Heart Disease
Date: Friday , May 21, 2004 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
2526 Sangren Kercher Center
Committee:
Dr. Victoria Ross, Chair
Dr. David Hartmann
Dr. Subhash Sonnad
Dr. Linda Borish
Abstract:
Heart disease is the number one killer among women in the United States. This study examines how the knowledge base of rural physicians affects his/her approach to diagnosing female heart disease. I am specifically interested in comparing the knowledge base of doctors trained in osteopathic medicine with doctors trained in allopathic medicine to see if knowledge affects how women and men are diagnosed. Current data suggests that a male model of recognized heart symptoms, and that physicians more often misdiagnose women presenting with heart disease. Because osteopathic medical education favors a holistic approach, I hypothesize that osteopathic doctors will consider a broader range of complaints as having a cardio component, and that osteopathic physicians will diagnose heart disease in women at higher rates than allopathic physicians. Moreover, because female physicians have historically taken a holistic approach, I hypothesize that female physicians will diagnose heart disease in women at higher rates than male physicians. This study surveys 700 rural Michigan physicians, elicits demographic and medical training characteristics, and uses a vignette describing women's heart symptoms. Physicians are compared on how they diagnose female in comparison with male patients.
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