From Self-Efficacy to Disparities in Institutional Support: A Cross-Sectional and Multi-Dimensional Evaluation of...

The Saudi Vision aims to empower women in leadership positions, particularly in male-dominated fields. Despite these national reforms, disparities remain. This study aimed to explore women's status in leadership and administrative positions in the medical imaging field and assess the empowering factors related to women's leadership and administrative roles. An online cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed to female workers in the medical imaging field at health and academic institutions between December 2021 and October 2022. The questionnaire comprised 3 sections: a) demographics (14 items), b) self-empowerment (38 items), and c) challenges faced by women in the medical imaging field (7 items). All responses were mandatory. Only 18.3% of the 44 female executives had leadership responsibilities, with most of them working in the medical imaging industry (72.7%). Furthermore, 49.6% of Saudi women feel that they cannot advance into administrative jobs. The common challenges faced by women were difficulties in balancing work and life (54.6%), followed by long working hours (52.5%) and societal restrictions (42.1%). The findings revealed no significant association between the mean score for challenges faced by Saudi women and various demographic characteristics (P > .05). This study reveals that many Saudi women in medical imaging and radiology feel constrained in their ability to advance to administrative roles, reflecting deep-rooted cultural barriers that Vision 2030 seeks to address. Significant participation from women younger than 25 revealed an unanticipated yet meaningful influence of Saudi Vision 2030, demonstrating how recent reforms have encouraged younger women to pursue careers and feel empowered to enter the medical imaging profession earlier than previous generations. Addressing challenges requires targeted policy initiatives and reforms. By promoting gender equity and fostering an inclusive work environment, institutions in the healthcare sector can empower women and enhance their career growth.