Department of Vascular Surgery, Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Vascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
J Vasc Surg. 2023 May;77(5):1322-1329. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.01.211. Epub 2023 Feb 13.
The precise number of actively practicing vascular surgeons who self-identify as Black American and the historical race composition trends within the overall profession of vascular surgery are unknown. Limited demographic data have been collected and maintained at the societal or national board level. Vascular surgery societal reports suggest that less than 2% of vascular surgeons identify as Black American. Black Americans comprise 13.4% of the U.S. population yet for disorders such as peripheral artery disease and end-stage renal disease, Black communities are disproportionately impacted, and the prevalence of disease is greater on an age-adjusted basis. A significant body of research shows that clinical outcomes such as medication adherence, shared decision-making, and research trial participation are positively impacted by racial concordance especially for communities in whom distrust is high as a consequence of historic experiences. This survey aims to characterize practice and career variables within a network of Black American vascular surgeons.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted via a questionnaire sent to all participants of the Society of Black Vascular Surgeons that began to convene monthly during the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced subsequent organic growth. The survey included 20 questions with variables quantified including the surgeon's demographics, clinical experience, practice setting, patient demographics, and professional society engagement.
Fifty-nine percent of the Society of Black Vascular Surgeons members completed the survey. Males comprised 81% of the responding vascular surgeons. The majority (62%) of respondents were involved in academic practice. Less than 25% of the total medical staff were Black American in 77% of the respondents' current work practice. The patient racial composition within their respective practice settings was as follows: White (47%), Black (34%), Hispanic (13%), Asian (3%), Middle Eastern or North African (2%), and American Indian and Alaskan Natives (0.4%). Forty-three percent of respondents had a current active membership in the Society for Vascular Surgery, and 24% had a regional society membership. Fifty-eight percent of respondents reported that they experienced a workplace event that they felt was racially or ethically driven in the 12 months before the survey.
This survey describes an under-represented in medicine vascular surgeon subgroup that has not heretofore been characterized. Racial and ethnic demographic data are essential to better understand the current demographic makeup of our specialty and to develop benchmark goals of race composition that mirrors our society at large. The patients of this group of Black American vascular surgeons were more likely to represent a racial minority. Efforts to increase race diversity in vascular surgery have the potential benefit of enhancing care of patients with vascular disease.
目前尚不清楚自认为是美国黑人的活跃血管外科医生的确切人数，以及血管外科学专业的历史种族构成趋势。仅收集到有限的人口统计学数据，并在社会或国家委员会层面进行了维护。血管外科学会报告表明，不到 2%的血管外科医生自认为是美国黑人。美国黑人占美国人口的 13.4%，但在周围动脉疾病和终末期肾脏疾病等疾病方面，黑人社区受到的影响不成比例，而且基于年龄调整后，疾病的患病率更高。大量研究表明，临床结果（如药物依从性、共同决策和参与研究试验）会因种族一致而受到积极影响，特别是对于那些由于历史经历而导致不信任程度较高的社区而言。这项调查旨在描述一个由美国黑人血管外科医生组成的网络中的实践和职业变量。
通过向在 COVID-19 大流行期间开始每月开会并随后经历有机增长的美国黑人血管外科学会的所有参与者发送问卷进行了横断面调查。该调查包括 20 个问题，变量包括外科医生的人口统计学、临床经验、实践环境、患者人口统计学和专业学会参与情况。
美国黑人血管外科学会的 59%成员完成了调查。男性占回应血管外科医生的 81%。大多数（62%）受访者参与学术实践。在 77%受访者当前的工作实践中，不到 25%的医务人员是美国黑人。他们各自实践环境中的患者种族构成如下：白人（47%）、黑人（34%）、西班牙裔（13%）、亚洲人（3%）、中东或北非（2%）以及美洲印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民（0.4%）。43%的受访者目前是血管外科学会的活跃会员，24%是地区学会的会员。58%的受访者报告说，在调查前 12 个月内，他们经历了一次他们认为是种族或道德驱动的工作场所事件。
这项调查描述了一个在医学领域代表性不足的血管外科医生亚组，迄今为止尚未对其进行描述。种族和民族人口统计学数据对于更好地了解我们专业的当前人口构成以及制定反映我们整个社会的种族构成基准目标至关重要。这群美国黑人血管外科医生的患者更有可能代表少数民族。增加血管外科学中的种族多样性的努力有可能改善血管疾病患者的护理。
