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Equity in anaesthetic procedural training: a UK survey
N Freeman1, A J R Macfarlane2,3, S Watson4
1Department of Anaesthesia Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK.
Anaesthesia Reports
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Gender disparities persist in UK anaesthetic training, with women reporting fewer procedures and lower confidence. While ethnicity shows no adverse impact, gender remains a barrier to equitable training opportunities in anaesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Anaesthesiology
- Health Equity
Background:
- Differential attainment by protected characteristics is documented in medical education.
- The relevance to UK anaesthetic training is not well-established.
- Understanding personal characteristic influence on training is crucial for equitable practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if personal characteristics influence access to procedural and training opportunities in UK anaesthesia.
- To identify disparities in procedural numbers, confidence, and supervision among anaesthetic trainees and specialists.
- To inform strategies for promoting diversity and equity in the anaesthetic workforce.
Main Methods:
- A national, cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted.
- Data collected included demographics, protected characteristics, procedural numbers, confidence, and supervision levels.
- Mixed-effects proportional odds logistic regression models were used for analysis, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Female gender was associated with fewer procedures, lower confidence, and higher supervision needs compared to male gender.
- Older age correlated with greater procedural exposure and confidence.
- Asian ethnicity showed higher confidence and perceived need for more distant supervision, but not increased procedural numbers.
- No significant adverse associations were found for disability, sexuality, or socio-economic background.
Conclusions:
- While access to procedural training in UK anaesthesia appears equitable across ethnicity and training status, significant gender disparities persist.
- Gender-based barriers are perceived more frequently by female respondents.
- Further qualitative research is needed to address the underlying causes of these gender disparities and promote diversity in anaesthesia.
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