Munabi Naikhoba C O, Auslander Allyn, Xepoleas Meredith D, Bunker Libby D, Vangsness Kella L, Koualla Sara, Magee Kathy S, Magee William P, Yao Caroline A
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
Operation Smile Inc, Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2022 Mar 2;2(3):e0000081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000081. eCollection 2022.
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have the greatest need for additional healthcare providers, and women outside the workforce help address the need. Women in healthcare need more mentorship and leadership training to advance their careers due to systemic barriers. This study evaluates how women working together on a medical team influences mentorship, leadership and empowerment. A single all-female volunteer team participating in a cleft surgery mission in Oujda, Morocco were surveyed before and after the mission. Statistical analysis with student's t-test or chi-squared were performed. 95 female volunteers from 23 countries participated on this team and 85% completed surveys. Volunteers from high-income countries (32%) and LMICs (68%) had similar mission roles (p = 0.58). Experience as a mission volunteer (p = 0.47), team leader (p = 0.28), and educator (p = 0.18) were equivalent between cohorts. 73% of women had previously received mentorship but 98% wanted more. 75% had previously mentored others, but 97% wanted to be mentors. 73% of volunteers who had no prior mentorship found their first mentor during the mission. All participants found a long-term peer relationship and felt motivated to mentor women at home. 95% were inspired to pursue leadership positions, advance professionally, and continue working with other women. This population of female healthcare professionals overwhelmingly desired more mentorship than is felt to be available. An all-female healthcare environment appears to provide opportunities for mentorship and create lasting motivation to teach, lead, and advance professionally. Findings raise the potential that increasing visibility of female professionals may effectively empower women in healthcare.
低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）对新增医疗保健提供者的需求最为迫切，而未就业的女性有助于满足这一需求。由于系统性障碍，从事医疗保健工作的女性需要更多的指导和领导力培训来推进其职业发展。本研究评估了在医疗团队中共同工作的女性如何影响指导、领导力和赋权。对参与摩洛哥乌季达唇腭裂手术任务的一支全女性志愿者团队在任务前后进行了调查。采用学生t检验或卡方检验进行统计分析。来自23个国家的95名女性志愿者参与了该团队，85%完成了调查。高收入国家（32%）和低收入及中等收入国家（68%）的志愿者在任务中的角色相似（p = 0.58）。不同队列之间作为任务志愿者（p = 0.47）、团队领导（p = 0.28）和教育工作者（p = 0.18）的经历相当。73%的女性此前曾接受过指导，但98%的女性希望获得更多指导。75%的女性此前曾指导过他人，但97%的女性希望成为指导者。73%此前没有指导者的志愿者在任务期间找到了她们的第一位指导者。所有参与者都建立了长期的同伴关系，并感到有动力在家乡指导女性。95%的人受到激励去追求领导职位、在职业上取得进步，并继续与其他女性合作。这群女性医疗专业人员极其渴望获得比现有指导更多的指导。全女性医疗环境似乎提供了指导机会，并创造了持续的动力去教学、领导和在职业上取得进步。研究结果表明，提高女性专业人员的知名度可能有效地增强医疗保健领域女性的权能。
