S1304 Female Representation in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Literature

Abstract

Introduction: Despite making up greater than 50% of medical students, women continue to be underrepresented in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. According to a 2017 survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 17% of attending gastroenterologists were women. This underrepresentation is present in both the clinical and research environments. We conducted a literature review to determine trends in female author representation in the gastroenterology and hepatology literature. Methods: We reviewed all original articles published during 2012 and 2017 in four national gastroenterology and hepatology journals (Gut, Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, Hepatology, and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology). The sex of the authors were recorded. Results: In total over the two years, 1,414 articles were reviewed. Author sex could not be determined for 8 first authors, 9 supplemental authors, and 6 senior authors. Of the studies for which sex of the first author could be determined, 39.5% (556) had a female first author and 60.5% (850) had a male first author. 87% (1,227) of studies had at least one female supplemental author, while 12.7% (178) had only male supplemental authors. 21.5% (302) of studies had a female senior author and 78.6% (1,106) had a male senior author. The increase in percentage of female authors from 2012 to 2017 was significant for articles with at least one female supplemental author (83.1% to 91.8%, p=0.001) and for articles with female senior authors (18.8% to 24.3%, p=0.016). There was a statistically insignificant increase in percentage of female first authors (38.0% to 41.3%, p=.231). Conclusion: Male first and senior authors outnumbered female authors in the examined literature, though the difference decreased in the examined years. The higher percentage of female first authors compared to senior authors is likely related to the near equal representation of females in student and trainee roles, which the first author is more likely to be. The lower proportion of female senior authors may be attributed to the limited female representation in research faculty positions. As women continue to gain representation in senior roles, further research may measure how female authorship continues to change over time.