A Comparative Analysis of Women's Experiences in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Versus Orthopedic Surgery

This study aims to understand positive and negative experiences shared between women in physical medicine and rehabilitation and orthopedic surgery to uncover pervasive issues within two male-dominated specialties with the end goal of improving both interest and representation of women.

Surveys were distributed to women practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation and to women practicing orthopedic surgery. Questions included close-ended, open-ended, and identifiers on a 4-point modified Likert scale. Data was anonymously collected using REDCap electronic data capture tools.

Negative experiences were much more common within orthopedics, which also has a lower percentage of women. 7.3% of physical medicine and rehabilitation respondents versus 28.2% of orthopedics respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment. 11.5% of physical medicine and rehabilitation respondents versus 79.2% of orthopedics respondents reported witnessing sexist comments or behaviors. Furthermore, 13.7% of physical medicine and rehabilitation respondents versus 60.6% of orthopedics respondents reported an unwelcoming environment. Regarding positive experiences, 68.6% of physical medicine and rehabilitation respondents versus 71.6% of orthopedics respondents found exposure to the field encouraging. 69.6% of physical medicine and rehabilitation respondents versus 87.4% of orthopedics respondents reported having a mentor in the field encouraging.

Stark differences were reported regarding sexist comments or behaviors, illustrating a dichotomous environment between physical medicine and rehabilitation and orthopedic surgery. Although physical medicine and rehabilitation has significantly lower percentages of these behaviors, there is still ample room for improvement.