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The Importance of Perceived Barriers to Women Entering and Advancing in Orthopaedic Surgery in the US and Beyond

Xu, Amy L ; Humbyrd, Casey J ; De Mattos, Camila Bedeschi Rego LU orcid and LaPorte, Dawn (2023) In World Journal of Surgery 47. p.3051-3059
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Global perceptions of barriers to women in orthopaedics have not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of international barriers to women entering and advancing within orthopaedic surgery.

METHODS: An anonymous, online survey was distributed to women medical students, trainees, and practicing surgeons via Women in Orthopaedics Worldwide, the "Women in Ortho" Facebook page, and individual programmes. Participants were asked to rate perceived barriers to (1) pursuing training and (2) career advancement on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most important and relative to other barriers. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were employed.

RESULTS: The survey yielded 237 US... (More)

BACKGROUND: Global perceptions of barriers to women in orthopaedics have not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of international barriers to women entering and advancing within orthopaedic surgery.

METHODS: An anonymous, online survey was distributed to women medical students, trainees, and practicing surgeons via Women in Orthopaedics Worldwide, the "Women in Ortho" Facebook page, and individual programmes. Participants were asked to rate perceived barriers to (1) pursuing training and (2) career advancement on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most important and relative to other barriers. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were employed.

RESULTS: The survey yielded 237 US (84.0%) and 45 international (16.0%) respondents. Per entering orthopaedic surgery, the most important barriers were male-dominated culture, lack of a strong women mentor, and lack of female representation at home institution. Compared with the US surgeons/trainees, international respondents cited greater societal disapproval (2.8 ± 1.2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.3, P = 0.01). Medical students assigned less importance to lack of exposure, more to lack of resources for creating competitive applications (P < 0.05). Regarding career advancement, lack of women leadership, family responsibilities, and gender-biased selection for promotion were the most important. International surgeons/trainees noted greater concern for societal disapproval (3.5 ± 1.5 vs. 2.6 ± 1.3, P = 0.003) and were more likely to rank sexual harassment in their top three (17.6 vs. 4.2%, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: While notable differences exist, there is striking similarity across countries and position levels in perceived barriers to women entering and advancing in orthopaedic surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
World Journal of Surgery
volume
47
pages
3051 - 3059
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85171742315
  • pmid:37735223
ISSN
1432-2323
DOI
10.1007/s00268-023-07165-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Société Internationale de Chirurgie.
id
f1b88313-62bb-473f-b559-787caf743f7a
date added to LUP
2023-11-16 09:30:52
date last changed
2024-04-14 16:54:33
@article{f1b88313-62bb-473f-b559-787caf743f7a,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Global perceptions of barriers to women in orthopaedics have not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of international barriers to women entering and advancing within orthopaedic surgery.</p><p>METHODS: An anonymous, online survey was distributed to women medical students, trainees, and practicing surgeons via Women in Orthopaedics Worldwide, the "Women in Ortho" Facebook page, and individual programmes. Participants were asked to rate perceived barriers to (1) pursuing training and (2) career advancement on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most important and relative to other barriers. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were employed.</p><p>RESULTS: The survey yielded 237 US (84.0%) and 45 international (16.0%) respondents. Per entering orthopaedic surgery, the most important barriers were male-dominated culture, lack of a strong women mentor, and lack of female representation at home institution. Compared with the US surgeons/trainees, international respondents cited greater societal disapproval (2.8 ± 1.2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.3, P = 0.01). Medical students assigned less importance to lack of exposure, more to lack of resources for creating competitive applications (P &lt; 0.05). Regarding career advancement, lack of women leadership, family responsibilities, and gender-biased selection for promotion were the most important. International surgeons/trainees noted greater concern for societal disapproval (3.5 ± 1.5 vs. 2.6 ± 1.3, P = 0.003) and were more likely to rank sexual harassment in their top three (17.6 vs. 4.2%, P = 0.02).</p><p>CONCLUSION: While notable differences exist, there is striking similarity across countries and position levels in perceived barriers to women entering and advancing in orthopaedic surgery.</p><p>LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.</p>}},
  author       = {{Xu, Amy L and Humbyrd, Casey J and De Mattos, Camila Bedeschi Rego and LaPorte, Dawn}},
  issn         = {{1432-2323}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{3051--3059}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{World Journal of Surgery}},
  title        = {{The Importance of Perceived Barriers to Women Entering and Advancing in Orthopaedic Surgery in the US and Beyond}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-023-07165-4}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00268-023-07165-4}},
  volume       = {{47}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}