Where Are the Women in Radiation Oncology? A Cross-Sectional Multi-Specialty Comparative Analysis
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative analysis of aggregate national specialty workforce data (level assigned by design analogy, not clinical CEBM).
OpenAlex W3166253607 · doi:10.1016/j.adro.2021.100735
What was done
The authors evaluated female representation across 16 medical specialties, including radiation oncology (RO), using Association of American Medical Colleges data across four time points (2006, 2011, 2016, and 2020). They assessed absolute growth in female representation and performed univariate linear regression to identify specialty characteristics predictive of gender diversity.
What was found
Female representation increased across all examined specialties between 2006 and 2020. Obstetrics/gynecology (14,750 in 2006 to 23,921 in 2020; 18.7% absolute growth) and dermatology (3,568 in 2006 to 6,329 in 2020; 15.1% absolute growth) had the highest growth. Radiation oncology absolute female growth was 1.5% (2006–2011), 2.2% (2011–2016), and 0.4% (2016–2020), representing the lowest growth among all 16 specialties in the 2016–2020 period. Specialty characteristics significantly predicting greater gender diversity included lower average Step 1 scores (P = .0056), fewer years of training (P = .0078), fewer work hours (P = .046), presence of a standard third-year clerkship (P = .0061), and a higher baseline number of female physicians (P = .0078). Research activities (P = .099) and matriculating student interest (P = .28) were not statistically significant.
Why it matters
This study highlights a recent stagnation in female physician representation in radiation oncology compared to other medical disciplines. Identifying structural predictors, such as third-year clerkship availability, provides potential targets for specialty-level recruitment initiatives.
Limits
The study is limited to aggregate specialty-level data across only 16 specialty data points, precluding multivariable modeling and introducing risk of ecological fallacy. Individual-level applicant decisions, compensation differences, institutional culture, and mentorship availability were not measured.
Cited by
- context There are currently more women enrolled in medical school and law school than men.