What Danish patients want: Gender, profession and age of therapist

Introduction: In Denmark, an increasing number of therapists are female. It is unknown whether this constitutes a problem to patients with a sexual dysfunction. Likewise, patients' preferences as to the age and profession of the therapist are unknown. Aim: To elucidate patients' preferences regarding their therapist's gender, age and profession a priori and to investigate whether the personal contact with a therapist influences the patients' attitude. Method: Survey with items concerning preferences regarding, age, gender and profession of the therapist before and after the first consultation to the Sexological Centre at a university hospital in Denmark. Results: A total of 159 patients of which 108 were men were included. The gender of the therapist was unimportant to 79 of the men 22 of the women. Eighty-seven male patients and 27 female patients stated that age did not matter. When not indifferent, men preferred to be treated by a physician, women by a psychologist. Of the 159 patients, 120 patients met a therapist of their preferred profession or were indifferent before and/or after their consultation. A total of 93 patients had a consultation with a therapist of another professional background than preferred, a majority of 66 patients claimed satisfaction or indifference after the consultation. Conclusion: Gender and age of the therapist is of less importance for sexological patients. Regarding profession, most patients prefer a physician or a psychologist, but the actual consultation with any professional results in either indifference or a change in preference towards the professional background of their therapist.