Women Colonoscopists for Women?

Previous studies have shown that women patients often state a preference for a woman endoscopist to perform colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy. But would offering women this choice increase the likelihood that they would undergo the procedure?

To answer this question, researchers conducted a prospective, nonrandomized study of 396 women patients (age range, 50–69) from multiple primary care practices who had not previously undergone colorectal cancer screening. Patients received invitations for screening that either did or did not include the choice of a woman endoscopist.

In regression analyses adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, marital status, and insurance status, patients who received the offer of a woman endoscopist were nearly 10 t…