Marko Zdravkovic1, Denisa Osinova2, Sorin J Brull3, Richard C Prielipp4, Claudia M Simões5, Joana Berger-Estilita6. 1. Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. 2. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University Bratislava, University Hospital Martin, Martin, Slovak Republic. 3. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA. 4. University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 5. Department of Anaesthesiology, Instituto Do Câncer Do Estado de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital Sírio Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil. 6. Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: jonana.berger-estilita@insel.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Women make up an increasing proportion of the physician workforce in anaesthesia, but they are consistently under-represented in leadership and governance. METHODS: We performed an internet-based survey to investigate career opportunities in leadership and research amongst anaesthesiologists. We also explored gender bias attributable to workplace attitudes and economic factors. The survey instrument was piloted, translated into seven languages, and uploaded to the SurveyMonkey® platform. We aimed to collect between 7800 and 13 700 responses from at least 100 countries. Participant consent and ethical approval were obtained. A quantitative analysis was done with χ2 and Cramer's V as a measure of strength of associations. We used an inductive approach and a thematic content analysis for qualitative data on current barriers to leadership and research. RESULTS: The 11 746 respondents, 51.3% women and 48.7% men, represented 148 countries; 35 respondents identified their gender as non-binary. Women were less driven to achieve leadership positions (P<0.001; Cramer's V: 0.11). Being a woman was reported as a disadvantage for leadership and research (P<0.001 for both; Cramer's V: 0.47 and 0.34, respectively). Women were also more likely to be mistreated in the workplace (odds ratio: 10.6; 95% confidence interval: 9.4-11.9; P<0.001), most commonly by surgeons. Several personal, departmental, institutional, and societal barriers in leadership and research were identified, and strategies to overcome them were suggested. Lower-income countries were associated with a significantly smaller gender gap (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst certain trends suggest improvements in the workplace, barriers to promotion of women in key leadership and research positions continue within anaesthesiology internationally.
BACKGROUND:Women make up an increasing proportion of the physician workforce in anaesthesia, but they are consistently under-represented in leadership and governance. METHODS: We performed an internet-based survey to investigate career opportunities in leadership and research amongst anaesthesiologists. We also explored gender bias attributable to workplace attitudes and economic factors. The survey instrument was piloted, translated into seven languages, and uploaded to the SurveyMonkey® platform. We aimed to collect between 7800 and 13 700 responses from at least 100 countries. Participant consent and ethical approval were obtained. A quantitative analysis was done with χ2 and Cramer's V as a measure of strength of associations. We used an inductive approach and a thematic content analysis for qualitative data on current barriers to leadership and research. RESULTS: The 11 746 respondents, 51.3% women and 48.7% men, represented 148 countries; 35 respondents identified their gender as non-binary. Women were less driven to achieve leadership positions (P<0.001; Cramer's V: 0.11). Being a woman was reported as a disadvantage for leadership and research (P<0.001 for both; Cramer's V: 0.47 and 0.34, respectively). Women were also more likely to be mistreated in the workplace (odds ratio: 10.6; 95% confidence interval: 9.4-11.9; P<0.001), most commonly by surgeons. Several personal, departmental, institutional, and societal barriers in leadership and research were identified, and strategies to overcome them were suggested. Lower-income countries were associated with a significantly smaller gender gap (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst certain trends suggest improvements in the workplace, barriers to promotion of women in key leadership and research positions continue within anaesthesiology internationally.
Authors: Stavroulla Xenophontos; Margarita Zachariou; Pavlos Polycarpou; Elena Ioannidou; Vera Kazandjian; Maria Lagou; Anna Michaelidou; George M Spyrou; Marios A Cariolou; Leonidas Phylactou Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Alexander Fuchs; Sandra Abegglen; Joana Berger-Estilita; Robert Greif; Helen Eigenmann Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-07-31 Impact factor: 2.692