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Mind the gap: Gendered publication trends in oncology
Nicole H Dalal1, Fumiko Chino2, Hannah Williamson3
1Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Cancer
|March 27, 2020
Summary
Female representation in oncology publications has increased, but gender disparities persist, impacting collaboration and advancement. Addressing these gaps is crucial for improving research productivity and representation, particularly in specialized fields.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
- Publication Analysis
Background:
- Investigating scientific publication trends in oncology can identify opportunities for women's representation and advancement.
- Gender disparities in academic publishing may hinder mentorship and collaboration in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gender representation and authorship trends in leading oncology journals.
- To identify differences in citation metrics and academic progression based on author gender.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 9189 articles from five major oncology journals (1990-2017).
- Data collected included author roles, gender, credentials, article type, and citation metrics.
- Author gender was determined using first names.
Main Results:
- Female representation as first and senior authors increased significantly from 1990 to 2017.
- Women were underrepresented in the most cited articles and had lower average citation counts compared to men.
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics (IJROBP) showed the lowest female representation.
- Gender differences were observed in academic credentials (MDs with Masters vs. MDs with PhDs).
Conclusions:
- Despite progress, significant gender disparities persist in oncology publications.
- Promoting women in oncology research can enhance academic representation, productivity, and collaboration.
- Addressing these disparities is vital for fields like radiation and surgical oncology.
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