Social and cultural stereotypes create expectations and biases amongst patients, healthcare providers and within the healthcare system, which can lead to unequal treatment and outcomes for different patients.

This is particularly concerning in the UK, which has the largest gender health gap amongst the 20 wealthiest countries (the G20 nations*)[i]. Given that the World Health Organisation predict that cancer cases are set to rise by 75% by 2050, we set out to explore how this gap disproportionately impacts patient experience of cancer care and to identity tangible steps for change[ii].

Over the last year, our team at Ipsos UK, have been conducting a self-funded research study, the results of which conclude that gender is an often-overlooked barrier to equitable cancer care in the UK. Rather than a product of intentional discrimination, this stems from deeply ingrained societal biases that shape how care is both delivered and received.

We looked at what influences these biases and how they impact the experience of both cis-gender male and cis-gender female patients.

Some key findings from our research include:

• Men are more likely to be taken seriously at symptom presentation than women: 76% of female patients agree they need to be assertive to get the care they need, vs 54% of male patients. We found that upon advocating for themselves with their HCPs, women are often perceived as ‘annoying’ or ‘pushy’, leading to dismissal and minimisation of their concern
• Men are underserved due to the gendered belief that they should be self-reliant: Societal norms influence the way HCPs view male patients, often assuming they are not ‘as emotional’ as women and therefore are less likely to be offered emotional support when receiving oncology care
• 45% of physicians do not feel able to enact change within their role:  This highlights a systemic and cultural issue within the healthcare landscape that needs to be challenged – not only at the individual HCP level but across the entire system to empower healthcare professionals to be effective agents of change.

Research shows that these biases not only negatively impact the patient experience but also has real-world consequences. It can lead to delayed diagnoses, inadequate support, and ultimately, unequal outcomes for men and women.

Our report highlights the need for drastic change in challenging these biases.  How can we ensure everyone gets the care they deserve, regardless of gender?

References:

*The G20  is a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies

[i] UK Parliament, 2023. Women’s health outcomes: is there a gender gap?. [online] Lords Library. Available at: https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/womens-health-outcomes-is-there-a-gender-gap/ [Accessed 27 October 2023]

[ii] World Health Organization (WHO), 2024. Global cancer burden growing amidst mounting need for services. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing–amidst-mounting-need-for-services [Accessed November 2023]