Gender, racial and ethnic disparities in the field of oncology: a scoping review of incidences, effects, and efforts

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Like other fields in medicine, the field of oncology has also faced both gender and ethnic disparities amongst the patients and healthcare workers. Compared to men, women make up smaller percentages of active physicians, members of international oncology-based societies, and leadership positions. Women have also been underrepresented in all levels of authorship in oncology journals. Similarly, minorities have made up a small fraction of the leadership roles in oncology. Fewer minorities apply to, get accepted in, and graduate from medical schools, and so constitute fewer active residents.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We conducted extensive literature using Google Scholar and PubMed/Medline databases from its inception to February 2022.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In clinical trials, despite being more likely to experience worse cancer-related outcomes, minorities are less likely to be recruited. Men and women have differing incidences, symptoms, and outcomes of cancer. However, women are still under-recruited in vital cancer drug trials despite efforts being made to increase their representation.CONCLUSIONS: All this can be attributed to various social, economic, and academic barriers such as lower salaries, lack of mentorship and role models, and discrimination during recruitment that hinder the progress of these underrepresented groups. Efforts have been made with varying degrees of success at multiple levels in the field of oncology to help reduce these disparities, thus making the field more inclusive and subsequently increasing the standard of care for patients.