Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis
Abstract Background The proportion of females enrolling into medical schools has been growing steadily. However, the representation of female residents among individual specialties has shown considerable variation. The purpose of this study was to compare the trends of gender representation in Otola...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-017-0232-0 |
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| author | Sarah Chorfi Joseph S. Schwartz Neil Verma Meredith Young Lawrence Joseph Lily H. P. Nguyen |
| author_facet | Sarah Chorfi Joseph S. Schwartz Neil Verma Meredith Young Lawrence Joseph Lily H. P. Nguyen |
| author_sort | Sarah Chorfi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The proportion of females enrolling into medical schools has been growing steadily. However, the representation of female residents among individual specialties has shown considerable variation. The purpose of this study was to compare the trends of gender representation in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) residency programs with other specialty training programs in Canada. In order to contextualize these findings, a second phase of analysis examined the success rate of applicants of different genders to OTL-HNS residency programs. Method Anonymized data were obtained from the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and from the Canadian Post-M.D. Education Registry (CAPER) from 1988 to 2014. The differences in gender growth rates were compared to other subspecialty programs of varying size. Descriptive analysis was used to examine gender representation among OTL-HNS residents across years, and to compare these trends with other specialties. Bayesian hierarchical models were fit to analyze the growth in program rates in OTL-HNS based on gender. Results CaRMS and CAPER data over a 27 year period demonstrated that OTL-HNS has doubled its female representation from 20% to 40% between 1990 and 1994 and 2010-2014. The difference in annual growth rate of female representation versus male representation in OTL-HNS over this time period was 2.7%, which was similar to other large specialty programs and surgical subspecialties. There was parity in success rates of female and male candidates ranking OTL-HNS as their first choice specialty for most years. Conclusions Female representation in Canadian OTL-HNS residency programs is steadily increasing over the last 27 years. Large variation in female applicant acceptance rates was observed across Canadian universities, possibly attributable to differences in student body or applicant demographics. Factors influencing female medical student career selection to OTL-HNS require further study to mitigate disparities in gender representation and identify barriers to prospective female OTL-HNS applicants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48121984ea9a4f34ad30fd8c72b5dbb6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1916-0216 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-48121984ea9a4f34ad30fd8c72b5dbb62025-02-03T00:22:57ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162017-08-014611810.1186/s40463-017-0232-0Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysisSarah Chorfi0Joseph S. Schwartz1Neil Verma2Meredith Young3Lawrence Joseph4Lily H. P. Nguyen5Faculty of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill UniversityFaculty of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill UniversityCentre for Medical Education, McGill UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill UniversityAbstract Background The proportion of females enrolling into medical schools has been growing steadily. However, the representation of female residents among individual specialties has shown considerable variation. The purpose of this study was to compare the trends of gender representation in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) residency programs with other specialty training programs in Canada. In order to contextualize these findings, a second phase of analysis examined the success rate of applicants of different genders to OTL-HNS residency programs. Method Anonymized data were obtained from the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and from the Canadian Post-M.D. Education Registry (CAPER) from 1988 to 2014. The differences in gender growth rates were compared to other subspecialty programs of varying size. Descriptive analysis was used to examine gender representation among OTL-HNS residents across years, and to compare these trends with other specialties. Bayesian hierarchical models were fit to analyze the growth in program rates in OTL-HNS based on gender. Results CaRMS and CAPER data over a 27 year period demonstrated that OTL-HNS has doubled its female representation from 20% to 40% between 1990 and 1994 and 2010-2014. The difference in annual growth rate of female representation versus male representation in OTL-HNS over this time period was 2.7%, which was similar to other large specialty programs and surgical subspecialties. There was parity in success rates of female and male candidates ranking OTL-HNS as their first choice specialty for most years. Conclusions Female representation in Canadian OTL-HNS residency programs is steadily increasing over the last 27 years. Large variation in female applicant acceptance rates was observed across Canadian universities, possibly attributable to differences in student body or applicant demographics. Factors influencing female medical student career selection to OTL-HNS require further study to mitigate disparities in gender representation and identify barriers to prospective female OTL-HNS applicants.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-017-0232-0GenderFemaleDiversityMinorityOtolaryngologyResidents |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Chorfi Joseph S. Schwartz Neil Verma Meredith Young Lawrence Joseph Lily H. P. Nguyen Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Gender Female Diversity Minority Otolaryngology Residents |
| title | Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis |
| title_full | Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis |
| title_short | Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: a 27-year analysis |
| title_sort | evolution of gender representation among canadian otl hns residents a 27 year analysis |
| topic | Gender Female Diversity Minority Otolaryngology Residents |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-017-0232-0 |
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