Foote Darci C, Meza James M, Sood Vikram, Reddy Rishindra M
University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
J Surg Educ. 2017 Sep-Oct;74(5):811-819. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2017.02.013. Epub 2017 Mar 28.
Although over half of medical students are females, women comprise only 21% of cardiothoracic (CT) surgery residency applicants and 5% of the CT workforce. We sought to gain insight into female medical students' perceptions of CT surgery and identify targets to increase interest.
A 33-question survey queried career selection factors, perceptions of CT surgery, and ways to increase interest in the field. Responses were stratified by sex and preclinical versus clinical years.
Women at 13 US medical schools were compared to men at a Midwest medical school.
Surveys were distributed to approximately 4400 women and were completed by 372 (8.5%) women. Comparison surveys were distributed to approximately 170 preclinical men and were completed by 98 (57.6%) men.
Preclinical woman had broad interests, whereas clinical women were more interested in primary care (p = 0.0124). Intellectual interest and lifestyle were important in specialty selection for men and women (91% versus 90%; 78% versus 86%). Although preclinical men valued perceived prestige and salary significantly more than preclinical women (39% versus 20%, p = 0.0014; 64% versus 48%, p = 0.0173), preclinical women valued caring for specific ethnicities and addressing health disparities significantly more than preclinical men (26% versus 15%, p = 0.0173; 53% versus 33%, p = 0.0019). Making family plans was cited by 83% of women as difficult if they choose to become a CT surgeon. Women thought that attaining their career interests and life goals (76%) or access to female CT surgery mentors (63%) would make the field more appealing. Over 70% of preclinical women were interested in shadowing a CT surgeon. Of these women, 12% attempted to shadow.
Although baseline interest in CT surgery is low among women, there are many targets for increasing interest especially during preclinical years. Residency programs have the opportunity to entice women to the field by addressing their priorities of lifestyle, family planning, and addressing health disparities.
尽管超过半数的医学生为女性，但女性仅占心胸外科（CT）住院医师申请者的21%，且在CT外科从业人员中占比仅为5%。我们试图深入了解女性医学生对CT外科的看法，并确定提高她们兴趣的目标。
一项包含33个问题的调查询问了职业选择因素、对CT外科的看法以及提高对该领域兴趣的方法。回答按性别以及临床前与临床阶段进行分层。
将美国13所医学院的女性与一所中西部医学院的男性进行比较。
向约4400名女性发放了调查问卷，372名（8.5%）女性完成了调查。向约170名临床前男性发放了对照调查问卷，98名（57.6%）男性完成了调查。
临床前女性兴趣广泛，而临床阶段的女性对初级保健更感兴趣（p = 0.0124）。智力兴趣和生活方式对男性和女性的专业选择都很重要（分别为91%对90%；78%对86%）。尽管临床前男性比临床前女性更看重声誉和薪资（分别为39%对20%，p = 0.0014；64%对48%，p = 0.0173），但临床前女性比临床前男性更看重照顾特定种族人群和解决健康差距问题（分别为26%对15%，p = 0.0173；53%对33%，p = 0.0019）。83%的女性表示，如果选择成为CT外科医生，制定家庭计划会很困难。女性认为实现职业兴趣和生活目标（76%）或有女性CT外科导师（63%）会使该领域更具吸引力。超过70%的临床前女性有兴趣观摩CT外科医生的工作。在这些女性中，12%尝试进行了观摩。
尽管女性对CT外科的初始兴趣较低，但有很多可以提高兴趣的目标，尤其是在临床前阶段。住院医师培训项目有机会通过关注她们在生活方式、计划生育和解决健康差距方面的优先事项，吸引女性投身该领域。
