Gender awareness among Italian medical students

Gender differences may affect the health status and presentation of diseases, sometimes determining a different approach by doctors and potentially resulting in a different use of prevention and care services. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to compare the attitudes towards gender and gender stereotyping among male and female students in an Italian university. Data has been collected through a questionnaire administered to all medical students admitted to the School of Medicine and Surgery, resulting in a total sample of 153 subjects. The questionnaire investigated the following topics: Gender sensitivity (GS), Gender role ideology toward patients (GRIP), and Gender role ideology toward doctors (GRID). The results showed significant differences between genders in the GRIP and GRID areas. Males showed a more stereotyped gender atti-tude toward doctors and patients, with a higher score than females in the GRID and GRIP sub-scales. Gender differences among medical students need to be considered in medical educatio