Gender and Other Factors Associated with Endoscopy Volume Among U.S. Gastroenterology Fellows

Gastroenterology (GI) fellows' ability to perform procedures are evaluated by the level of competency in the cognitive and technical components of procedures in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited fellowship programs.¹ However, competency in endoscopic procedures correlates with the number of procedures performed.² The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has recommended that a minimum of 130 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and 275 colonoscopies be performed before procedural competency can be assessed.³ Few studies have examined program or trainee-related factors, such as trainee gender, that may influence procedural volume. In other procedural subspecialties, a gender gap exists in trainee procedural volumes, with female residents performing fewer surgical cases than males.^4,5 However, whether gender-related disparities exist in endoscopy volume among GI trainees is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact of GI fellow gender on endoscopic procedural volume during training. Secondary aims were to determine if fellow career choice or other training program-related factors, such as program size, location, or setting, affect procedure volume during fellowship.