P020 GENDER AND CARDIOLOGY: EVALUATION OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND LABOR INEQUALITY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Abstract

Introduction: Gender disparity has been a topic of increasing interest and controversy in recent years. In the United States, women represent only 12.6% of cardiologists, a figure that reflects persistent inequalities in this specialty and often leads women to dismiss it as a viable career option. In addition, salary disparity remains an obvious problem, with a trend that tends to favor the male sex. On the other hand, in Japan, female cardiologists face professional limitations due to family and domestic responsibilities that restrict their development and advancement in the profession. Objective: To analyze and understand the perceptions and experiences of discrimination, harassment and work obstacles among cardiologists in the Dominican Republic, with a focus on gender differences. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out, in which a sample was randomly selected from the directory of the Dominican Society of Cardiology. An online questionnaire was used to collect demographic and work-related information, as well as data on experiences of discrimination, harassment and professional obstacles. Results: A sample of 51 patients was obtained, with an average age of 47.8 years, of whom 56.9% were women. Thirty-six.4% of women reported experiencing discrimination, compared with 13.8% of men. In terms of employment barriers, 62.1% of men reported obstacles related to remuneration, despite having higher monthly earnings compared to women. Of the latter, 50.0% also faced difficulties in this aspect. With respect to work-life balance barriers, 40.9% of women and 13.8% of men reported them. Conclusion: The perception of disparities among cardiologists reveals a trend where men face barriers in economic development, while women struggle to find a work-life balance. This highlights the urgency of implementing proactive strategies to promote gender equality in cardiology and ensure an inclusive and equitable professional environment.