1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
2University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas; and.
J Neurosurg. 2024 Feb 2;141(1):48-54. doi: 10.3171/2023.11.JNS231152. Print 2024 Jul 1.
The number of women graduating from United States medical schools has reached parity with that of men. However, persistent inequalities and barriers have slowed the pace toward equity in application and representation in neurosurgery residency despite initiatives to increase female representation. The objective of the present study was to assess the advancement of gender parity within neurosurgery residency programs. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze the pipeline dynamics by investigating the effects of attrition on women in neurosurgery, as well as exploring the patterns of female applications to neurosurgery residency programs versus other surgical specialties.
Data on the number of active female neurosurgery residents and female applicants to neurosurgery were collected from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Data Resource Book from 2007 to 2021 and Electronic Residency Application Service from 2014 to 2022. Linear regression analysis was used to predict the percent of active female residents based on academic year (AY). A Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the odds of a female applying to neurosurgery.
The percent of active female residents in neurosurgery increased from 11.0% in 2007 to 21.8% in 2021. Bivariate linear regression analysis using AY as a predictor of the percent of active females showed a statistically significant correlation. On average, the percent of active female residents increased by 0.65% per year. If trends persist, parity for females in neurosurgery will not be reached until 2069. Linear regression analysis of the overall rate of attrition in neurosurgery as a predictor of the percent of active female residents revealed that for every 1% increase in the rate of attrition, the percent of active female residents decreased by 2.91% (p = 0.001). The percent of female applicants to neurosurgery increased from 19.6% in 2014 to 29.8% in 2022 (p = 0.009), yet the odds of a female applying to neurosurgery remain low.
Neurosurgery continues to struggle with the recruitment of female medical students even as parity has been reached for female medical school matriculants. Greater effort is needed to recruit and retain female applicants to neurosurgery, including increased transparency in match and attrition metrics.
美国医学院毕业的女性人数已与男性持平。然而，尽管采取了增加女性代表性的举措，但在神经外科学住院医师培训方面，不平等和障碍仍然存在，这减缓了实现公平的步伐。本研究的目的是评估神经外科学住院医师培训项目中性别均等化的进展。此外，该研究旨在通过调查女性在神经外科中的淘汰率对女性的影响，以及分析女性申请神经外科学住院医师培训项目与其他外科专业的模式，来分析人才管道的动态。
从 2007 年至 2021 年，从研究生医学教育认证委员会数据资源手册中收集了在职女性神经外科住院医师和申请神经外科的女性人数的数据，从 2014 年至 2022 年从电子住院医师申请服务中收集了数据。使用线性回归分析来预测基于学术年度 (AY) 的在职女性居民的百分比。使用 Pearson 卡方检验来确定女性申请神经外科的几率。
神经外科在职女性的比例从 2007 年的 11.0%增加到 2021 年的 21.8%。使用 AY 作为在职女性百分比的预测因子进行双变量线性回归分析显示出统计学上的显著相关性。平均而言，在职女性居民的比例每年增加 0.65%。如果趋势持续下去，女性在神经外科的平等将不会在 2069 年实现。神经外科整体淘汰率作为在职女性比例的预测因子的线性回归分析显示，淘汰率每增加 1%，在职女性比例就会下降 2.91%（p = 0.001）。申请神经外科的女性人数从 2014 年的 19.6%增加到 2022 年的 29.8%（p = 0.009），但女性申请神经外科的几率仍然很低。
尽管女性医学生的入学人数已经达到了平等，但神经外科在招募女性医学生方面仍面临困难。需要更加努力地招募和留住女性申请神经外科，包括增加匹配和淘汰率的透明度。
