Patients' perceptions of male and female nursing interns in Guangdong and Guangxi, Southern China: The interplay of gender stereotypes, patient satisfaction, and willingness to receive care.

Nursing remains female-dominated globally, with gender stereotypes hindering workforce diversity. Male nurses account for 2% to 5% of China's nursing workforce, and Guangdong/Guangxi lack studies on patients' perceptions of male nursing interns. This study aims to explore relationships between gender stereotypes, patient satisfaction, and willingness to receive care from male/female nursing interns in Guangdong/Guangxi and identify influencing factors. In this study, a multicenter cross-sectional survey (Mar-Jun 2025) enrolled 460 inpatients from 4 tertiary hospitals (2 each in Guangdong/Guangxi) using a culturally adapted questionnaire. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, t-tests, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results showed that patients had moderate-to-high willingness to accept male (M = 3.65, SD = 1.08) and female (M = 4.10, SD = 0.80) interns, with higher willingness for females (t = 8.53, P < .001). Patient satisfaction was positively correlated (r = 0.4 < 0.001), while "empathy as feminine" stereotype was negatively correlated (r = -0.40, P < .001) with male intern acceptance. Multiple linear regression identified satisfaction (β = 0.35), the stereotype (β = -0.29), urban-rural background (β = 0.16), and education (β = 0.13) as predictors (32.7% variance explained). Male, urban, higher-educated patients had higher willingness; no ethnic differences existed. In conclusion, high-‑quality care was related to lower gender bias, while empathy stereotypes correlated with poorer acceptance. Urban-rural and educational factors were associated with perceptions. Targeted education, clinical training, and gender‑sensitive policies were linked to better acceptance and workforce diversity.