STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce
Aims: Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery has come under scrutiny for lagging behind other medical specialties in promoting gender and cultural equity and diversity within their workforce. The proportions of female, ethnic minority, and sexual and gender minority individuals within orthopaedic...
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| Language: | English |
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The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Bone & Joint Open |
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| Online Access: | https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.61.BJO-2024-0014.R1 |
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| author | Monu Jabbal Jennifer Cherry Deborah Eastwood Chloe E. H. Scott Phil Walmsley Emily Baird |
| author_facet | Monu Jabbal Jennifer Cherry Deborah Eastwood Chloe E. H. Scott Phil Walmsley Emily Baird |
| author_sort | Monu Jabbal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aims: Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery has come under scrutiny for lagging behind other medical specialties in promoting gender and cultural equity and diversity within their workforce. The proportions of female, ethnic minority, and sexual and gender minority individuals within orthopaedic membership bodies are disproportionate to the populations they serve. The aim of this study is to report the findings of a national workforce survey of demographics and working patterns within T&O in Scotland. Methods: A questionnaire devised by a working group was delivered by the Client Analyst and Relationship Development (CARD) group. Utilizing a secure third party ensured anonymity for all respondents. Data were recorded and analyzed by the CARD group. Results: A total of 353 responses were recorded, representing 71% of the known workforce. Overall, 261 respondents (74%) identified as male, 85 (24%) female, and seven (2%) preferred not to say. For specialist trainee (ST)3 to ST6, 148 (42%) were female, and for ST7 to ST8, 131 (37%) were female. In total, 226 of all respondents (64%) were white-British, 35 (10%) were white-European, and 92 (26%) were of an ethnic minority background. A total of 321 of respondents (91%) identified as heterosexual, 14 (4%) preferred not to say, and 18 (5%) identified as LGBTQ+ or preferred to self-describe. Conclusion: This is the largest national workforce survey in contemporary surgical literature. The findings demonstrate a greater proportion of female surgeons overall compared to other studies in T&O. This proportion of females was highest among more junior trainees. The Scottish T&O workforce is more ethnically diverse than the demographics of the population it serves. This study suggests that T&O in Scotland is an evolving speciality in terms of equality and diversity, and is making positive progress. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(1):103–108. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49387f4fadd345fba31820bb27c9a8ad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2633-1462 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bone & Joint Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-49387f4fadd345fba31820bb27c9a8ad2025-01-28T05:38:53ZengThe British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint SurgeryBone & Joint Open2633-14622025-01-016110310810.1302/2633-1462.61.BJO-2024-0014.R1STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforceMonu Jabbal0Jennifer Cherry1Deborah Eastwood2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6191-4768Chloe E. H. Scott3Phil Walmsley4Emily Baird5Orthopaedics Department, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UKOrthopaedics Department, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UKGreat Ormond Street Hospital, London, UKOrthopaedics Department, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UKFife National Treatment Centre, Kirkcaldy, UKOrthopaedics Department, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UKAims: Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery has come under scrutiny for lagging behind other medical specialties in promoting gender and cultural equity and diversity within their workforce. The proportions of female, ethnic minority, and sexual and gender minority individuals within orthopaedic membership bodies are disproportionate to the populations they serve. The aim of this study is to report the findings of a national workforce survey of demographics and working patterns within T&O in Scotland. Methods: A questionnaire devised by a working group was delivered by the Client Analyst and Relationship Development (CARD) group. Utilizing a secure third party ensured anonymity for all respondents. Data were recorded and analyzed by the CARD group. Results: A total of 353 responses were recorded, representing 71% of the known workforce. Overall, 261 respondents (74%) identified as male, 85 (24%) female, and seven (2%) preferred not to say. For specialist trainee (ST)3 to ST6, 148 (42%) were female, and for ST7 to ST8, 131 (37%) were female. In total, 226 of all respondents (64%) were white-British, 35 (10%) were white-European, and 92 (26%) were of an ethnic minority background. A total of 321 of respondents (91%) identified as heterosexual, 14 (4%) preferred not to say, and 18 (5%) identified as LGBTQ+ or preferred to self-describe. Conclusion: This is the largest national workforce survey in contemporary surgical literature. The findings demonstrate a greater proportion of female surgeons overall compared to other studies in T&O. This proportion of females was highest among more junior trainees. The Scottish T&O workforce is more ethnically diverse than the demographics of the population it serves. This study suggests that T&O in Scotland is an evolving speciality in terms of equality and diversity, and is making positive progress. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(1):103–108.https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.61.BJO-2024-0014.R1equalitydiversity and inclusivityworkforce planningpopulationtraumahipbritish orthopaedic associationchi-squared testtraumatologyphysiciansstrengths |
| spellingShingle | Monu Jabbal Jennifer Cherry Deborah Eastwood Chloe E. H. Scott Phil Walmsley Emily Baird STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce Bone & Joint Open equality diversity and inclusivity workforce planning population trauma hip british orthopaedic association chi-squared test traumatology physicians strengths |
| title | STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| title_full | STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| title_fullStr | STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| title_full_unstemmed | STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| title_short | STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project: demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| title_sort | step 1 the scottish trauma orthopaedics equality project demographics and working patterns of a national workforce |
| topic | equality diversity and inclusivity workforce planning population trauma hip british orthopaedic association chi-squared test traumatology physicians strengths |
| url | https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2633-1462.61.BJO-2024-0014.R1 |
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