Gender Differences Among Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeons

To determine whether gender differences exist in the training history, practice patterns, and home lives of surgeons who perform microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck.

Cross-sectional survey.

Medical facilities that employ surgeons who practice head and neck microvascular reconstruction in the United States.

A survey was created using the Research Electronic Data Capture Framework and was distributed via email to microvascular reconstructive surgeons. Descriptive statistics were performed using Stata software.

No significant differences were found in training or current practice patterns between microvascular surgeons who identify as men versus those who identify as women. Women had fewer children (p = .020) and were more likely to be childless (p = .002). Whereas men were more likely to report a spouse/partner as primary caretaker, women were more likely to hire a professional caretaker or cite themselves as a primary caretaker (p < .001). Women were more likely to have finished residency (p = .015) and fellowship (p = .014) more recently and to practice in the Southeast (p = .006). Of the microvascular surgeons who reported practice setting switches, men more commonly changed positions for career advancement, whereas women were more likely to switch due to burnout (p = .002).

This study found no gender-based differences in training or practice patterns. However, significant differences were identified in childbearing, family structure, geographic practice location, and motives for switching practice.