Study Finds Same-Gender Doctor Matching May Reduce Patient Satisfaction in Telemedicine

A study by Goa Institute of Management analyzing 286,196 telemedicine consultations across 20 specialties found that gender concordance between doctors and patients may reduce patient satisfaction in virtual care, contrasting with traditional in-person findings. Published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the research noted that male patients reported higher satisfaction with female doctors, linked to perceived empathy. The study highlights the need for culturally informed approaches in telemedicine design in India.