The Effect of Intersectionality on Attrition Among US General Surgery Trainees.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Equity

Background:

• Limited data exist on intersectionality's impact on general surgery resident experiences.
• Understanding demographic influences is crucial for improving resident retention and diversity in surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and sex and the retention of U.S. general surgery residents.
• To identify demographic factors contributing to attrition or successful completion of general surgery residency.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data for general surgery residents (2005-2015).
• Utilized regression analyses to assess demographic associations with residency attrition or completion.
• Examined correlations between faculty and resident demographics.

Main Results:

• Overall resident attrition rate was 15%.
• Underrepresented in medicine (UIM) females exhibited the highest yearly attrition rate (21%) compared to non-UIM males (13%).
• UIM females were more likely to leave residency than UIM males; faculty diversity correlated positively with resident diversity.

Conclusions:

• Increased intersectionality is linked to higher attrition rates in surgical residency programs.
• Faculty diversity may play a role in fostering resident diversity within general surgery.