Svenja Ravioli1, Nathalie Moser2, Basil Ryser3, Carmen Andrea Pfortmueller4, Gregor Lindner3. 1. Department of Internal and Emergency Medicine, Buergerspital Solothurn, Switzerland. Electronic address: svenja.ravioli@gmail.com. 2. Department of Anesthesiology, Buergerspital Solothurn, Switzerland. 3. Department of Internal and Emergency Medicine, Buergerspital Solothurn, Switzerland. 4. Department of Intensive Care, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The established gender gap in intensive care medicine is larger compared to other medical specialties. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender distribution in boards of intensive care medicine societies worldwide. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, board members and presidents of all intensive care medicine societies associated with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine were eligible for study inclusion. Exclusion criteria were: A) society without focus on intensive care and B) online information unavailable. RESULTS: In 2021, 65 presidents and 820 board members were analyzed. Ten presidents (15%) and 231 board members (28%) were women. The proportion of women presidents reached from 0% in Africa to 20% in Europe and South America. The proportion of women board members was highest in North and South America with 42% and 46% respectively and lowest in Africa (21%) and Asia (10%). In Europe, 31% of board members were women and 35% in Australia/New Zealand. Among presidents, women were underrepresented in all continents while gender distribution among board members varied significantly between countries (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our analysis reveals an inequality in gender distribution in the boards of national intensive care medicine societies which varies but persists for all global regions.
PURPOSE: The established gender gap in intensive care medicine is larger compared to other medical specialties. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender distribution in boards of intensive care medicine societies worldwide. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, board members and presidents of all intensive care medicine societies associated with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine were eligible for study inclusion. Exclusion criteria were: A) society without focus on intensive care and B) online information unavailable. RESULTS: In 2021, 65 presidents and 820 board members were analyzed. Ten presidents (15%) and 231 board members (28%) were women. The proportion of women presidents reached from 0% in Africa to 20% in Europe and South America. The proportion of women board members was highest in North and South America with 42% and 46% respectively and lowest in Africa (21%) and Asia (10%). In Europe, 31% of board members were women and 35% in Australia/New Zealand. Among presidents, women were underrepresented in all continents while gender distribution among board members varied significantly between countries (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our analysis reveals an inequality in gender distribution in the boards of national intensive care medicine societies which varies but persists for all global regions.