Jeanna Parsons Leigh1,2,3,4, Chloe de Grood3, Sofia B Ahmed4,5,6,7, Ania C Ulrich8, Kirsten M Fiest2,3,4,9,10, Sharon E Straus11, Henry T Stelfox2,3,4,12. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 3. Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 4. O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 5. Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 6. Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 7. Alberta Kidney Disease Network, AB, Canada. 8. Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 9. Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 10. Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 11. Department of Medicine, Saint Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 12. Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Critical care medicine is a medical specialty where women remain underrepresented relative to men. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived drivers (i.e., influencing factors) and implications (i.e., associated consequences) of gender inequity in critical care medicine and determine strategies to attract and retain women. DESIGN: Qualitative interview-based study. SETTING: We recruited participants from the 13 Canadian Universities with adult critical care medicine training programs. PARTICIPANTS: We invited all faculty members (clinical and academic) and trainees to participate in a semistructured telephone interview and purposely aimed to recruit two faculty members (one woman and one man) and one trainee from each site. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and two investigators conducted thematic analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three-hundred seventy-one faculty members (20% women, 80% men) and 105 trainees (28% women, 72% men) were invited to participate, 48 participants were required to achieve saturation. Participants unanimously described critical care medicine as a specialty practiced predominantly by men. Most women described experiences of being personally or professionally impacted by gender inequity in their group. Postulated drivers of the gender gap included institutional and interpersonal factors. Mentorship programs that span institutions, targeted policies to support family planning, and opportunities for modified role descriptions were common strategies suggested to attract and retain women. CONCLUSIONS: Participants identified a gender gap in critical care medicine and provided important insight into the impact for personal, professional, and group dynamics. Recommended improvement strategies are feasible, map broadly onto reported drivers and implications, and are applicable to critical care medicine and more broadly throughout medical specialties.
OBJECTIVES: Critical care medicine is a medical specialty where women remain underrepresented relative to men. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived drivers (i.e., influencing factors) and implications (i.e., associated consequences) of gender inequity in critical care medicine and determine strategies to attract and retain women. DESIGN: Qualitative interview-based study. SETTING: We recruited participants from the 13 Canadian Universities with adult critical care medicine training programs. PARTICIPANTS: We invited all faculty members (clinical and academic) and trainees to participate in a semistructured telephone interview and purposely aimed to recruit two faculty members (one woman and one man) and one trainee from each site. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and two investigators conducted thematic analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three-hundred seventy-one faculty members (20% women, 80% men) and 105 trainees (28% women, 72% men) were invited to participate, 48 participants were required to achieve saturation. Participants unanimously described critical care medicine as a specialty practiced predominantly by men. Most women described experiences of being personally or professionally impacted by gender inequity in their group. Postulated drivers of the gender gap included institutional and interpersonal factors. Mentorship programs that span institutions, targeted policies to support family planning, and opportunities for modified role descriptions were common strategies suggested to attract and retain women. CONCLUSIONS:Participants identified a gender gap in critical care medicine and provided important insight into the impact for personal, professional, and group dynamics. Recommended improvement strategies are feasible, map broadly onto reported drivers and implications, and are applicable to critical care medicine and more broadly throughout medical specialties.
Authors: Shahla Siddiqui; Karsten Bartels; Maximilian S Schaefer; Lena Novack; Roshni Sreedharan; Talia K Ben-Jacob; Ashish K Khanna; Mark E Nunnally; Michael Souter; Shawn T Simmons; George Williams Journal: Anesth Analg Date: 2021-03-01 Impact factor: 6.627
Authors: Kirsten M Fiest; Jeanna Parsons Leigh; Karla D Krewulak; Kara M Plotnikoff; Laryssa G Kemp; Joshua Ng-Kamstra; Henry T Stelfox Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Jeanna Parsons Leigh; Laryssa G Kemp; Chloe de Grood; Rebecca Brundin-Mather; Henry T Stelfox; Josh S Ng-Kamstra; Kirsten M Fiest Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2021-04-22 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Jean-Louis Vincent; Nicole P Juffermans; Karen E A Burns; V Marco Ranieri; Chryssa Pourzitaki; Francesca Rubulotta Journal: Crit Care Date: 2021-04-16 Impact factor: 9.097
Authors: Jeanna Parsons Leigh; Chloe de Grood; Rebecca Brundin-Mather; Alexandra Dodds; Emily A FitzGerald; Laryssa Kemp; Sara J Mizen; Liam Whalen-Browne; Henry T Stelfox; Kirsten M Fiest Journal: Crit Care Explor Date: 2022-01-18
Authors: Jeanna Parsons Leigh; Chloe de Grood; Sofia Ahmed; Karen Bosma; Karen E A Burns; Robert Fowler; Alison Fox-Robichaud; Sangeeta Mehta; Tina Mele; Sharon E Straus; Nubia Zepeda; Laryssa Kemp; Kirsten Fiest; Henry Thomas Stelfox Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-06-11 Impact factor: 2.692