Examining the barriers faced by female surgical trainees: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Women constitute 56% of medical students but only 13% of surgical consultants, a figure stagnant since 2013.
• This disparity highlights persistent barriers to female advancement in surgical careers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the barriers encountered by female surgical trainees.
• To identify factors hindering women's success in modern surgery.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 16 female trainees, 3 male trainees, and 1 training programme director (TPD).
• Interviews focused on identifying barriers faced by women in surgical training.

Main Results:

• Family pressures, particularly motherhood, pose significant barriers for female trainees, often leading to less than full-time (LTFT) training.
• LTFT training and the national surgical training program's structure (e.g., frequent hospital moves) create further obstacles, disproportionately affecting women with childcare responsibilities.
• Sexism, discrimination from colleagues and patients, and perceived gender differences in communication and stress management were commonly reported.

Conclusions:

• Reforming surgical training structures is essential to balance professional demands with family roles, particularly for women.
• Enhanced equality and diversity training are crucial to address conscious and unconscious biases in surgery.