Generational and Gender Differences in the Health Informatics Workforce.

INTRODUCTION

The health informatics workforce integrates skills in science, technology, and data science to manage health data and support digital healthcare. Despite its growing importance, little is known about the generational and gender differences within this workforce.

METHODS

The study analyzes data from the 2023 Specialist Digital Health Workforce Census, conducted online in July-August 2023. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was collected. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square Test for Independence were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Out of 349 responses, 345 were included in the analysis. The majority of respondents identified as female (59.4%) and were predominantly in the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups. The occupational groups included health information technology (46.7%) and health informatics (38.6%). Significant correlations were found between occupational group, age, and gender, and various other attributes, such as qualification, registered professional, years of experience, and remuneration level.

DISCUSSION

The analysis highlights the importance of understanding demographic characteristics to inform workforce planning. The findings align with previous research on the significance of formal education in health informatics. The study also identifies potential disparities in pay based on occupational group, age, and gender, emphasizing the need for equity and inclusivity in the field.