Gender-specific Differences in Radiation Oncology Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Subanalysis

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted cancer education across specialties. Radiation oncology, with its highly technical nature and multidisciplinary approach, faced unique challenges in maintaining training quality while adapting to pandemic restrictions. This subanalysis of a nationwide survey on oncological training quality during the pandemic examines gender-specific differences within radiation oncology specialist training. We analyzed survey responses from 85 radiation oncologists (58 females, 27 males) conducted between February and November 2022, focusing on workload changes, educational access, digital learning adaptation, and training quality assessment. Male radiation oncologists experienced more frequent work disruptions, including temporary departmental relocation (48.1% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.027) and significant work assignment changes (categories 4 + 5: 55.5% vs. 17.2%, p = 0.002). Males reported better access to digital learning alternatives, including e-learning platforms (37.0% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.001) and live online teaching (51.9% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.004), while females more frequently lacked alternatives for clinical training (55.2% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.012). Gender differences emerged in perceived negative training factors, with males more concerned about team meeting disruptions (categories 4 + 5: 51.8% vs. 41.4%, p = 0.022) and females about personal work absences (categories 4 + 5: 31.0% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.015). Despite these operational differences, overall training and work quality assessments remained comparable between genders. The pandemic affected male and female radiation oncologists through different pathways, with males experiencing more work deployment changes and better digital access, while females faced greater gaps in training alternatives. These findings highlight the importance of gender-sensitive crisis response planning to ensure equitable training opportunities during future health emergencies.