Phenotypic Differences between Male Physicians, Surgeons, and Film Stars: Comparative Study
Abstract & Commentary
by John C. Hobbins, MD, Professor and Chief of Obstetrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. Dr. Hobbins reports no financial relationship to this field of study.
Synopsis: A paper just emerged in the research section of the British Medical Journal that gives new meaning to scientific investigation. The authors noticed early in their training that the taller, better looking students tended to go into surgery, so these Spanish investigators set out to put their observations literally to the test.
Source: Trilla A, et al. BMJ. 2006;333:1291-1293.
The investigators enticed 14 male surgeons and 16 male physicians (internal medicine and sub-specialists) to submit recent photographs of themselves to the investigators and to indicate how tall they were. In addition, photographs of 4 actors playing doctors were used as controls. They were George Clooney (E.R.), Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Harrison Ford (The Fugitive) and Hugh Laurie (House). Then, 8 women (5 nurses and 3 doctors) were chosen to review the photographs and to independently judge each according to a 1 to 7 "good-looking score" (7 being outstandingly handsome and 1 being ugly). Standard t tests were used for statistical analysis.
The results bore out the authors' hunch. The surgeons were, on average, better looking than the physicians (4.39 versus 3.65; p = 0.010) and were taller (179 cm versus 172 cm; p = 0.01). The controls had an average good-looking score of 5.96. A spin-off finding was that surgeons tended to have more hair.
In the Discussion Section, some very cogent points were made. Surgeons practice what the authors called "confidence based medicine" (something not quite similar to evidence based medicine), which requires boldness and an ability to tightly control their domain. The authors felt "being taller and better looking has several evolutionary advantages." Their extra height affords them more opportunity to be "masters and commanders, and gives them a better view of the operating room" (their designated kingdom). Also, their appearance may be enhanced by their environment. For example, there is more oxygen in the operating room, and, because they have a mask on much of the time, their faces are protected from "microtrauma" (a possible anti-aging trick). Many surgeons even wear clogs to add at least two inches to their height.
On the other hand, the authors indicate that physicians tend to have heavy stethoscopes around their necks, which causes them to stoop, thereby making them appear shorter and less attractive. In addition, the mental weight of having to keep up with the voluminous amount of evidence-based literature "grinds them down" and can play havoc on their demeanor and, in turn, their appearance.
Commentary
The major drawback to this study is that surgeons were only pitted against internists—an unfair comparison—and not against OB/GYNs. Also, who said you have to be tall to be called good looking? Last, who is George Clooney?
Reference
1. Trilla A, et al. BMJ. 2006;333:1291-1293.
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