Gender-Related Disparities Among Vascular Surgeons in Italy: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

To assess the presence, quality and impact of gender-related discrepancies in academic vascular surgery at a national level. This was an anonymous national structured non-validated cross-sectional survey on gender disparity perceptions, named "I love it when you call me Señorita", distributed to 645 participants from academic Italian vascular centers. Endpoints were related to job-related characteristics, satisfaction and sexual harassment. The survey yielded a 27% response rate (n=174, 78 males and 96 females). Significant differences between male and female responders were found in terms of job satisfaction (83.3% vs 53.1%, p<.001), perception of career opportunities (91.7% vs 67.9%, p<.001), surgical activity in the operating theatre (34.6% vs 7.3%, p<.001), involvement in scientific activities (contribution in peer-reviewed articles: 37.2% vs 9.4%, p<.001; scientific meeting attendance/year: 42.3% vs 20.8%, p=.002) and perception of lower peer support at work (2.6% vs 22.9%, p<.001). In addition, female physicians more frequently suffered sexual harassment from male peers/colleagues (10% vs 34%, p<.001), male healthcare workers (7% vs 26%, p=.001), patients/caregivers independently from their sex (6% vs 38.5%, p<.001 for males and 5% vs 22%, p=.001 for females). A significant number of the female vascular surgeons in Italian academic vascular centers responding to the survey have experienced workplace inequality and sexual harassment. Substantial efforts and ongoing initiatives are still required to address gender disparities, emphasizing the need for the promotion of specific guidelines within scientific societies.