Bridging the gap - Gender performance in surgical training

Understanding gender representation and promoting gender equity have become an important facet of surgical training. Medical schools have reached gender parity and the numbers of women entering surgical training programs are increasing. However, women are still underrepresented in most surgical specialties. Recognising that there is equity in technical and non-technical surgical skills can provide important information regarding gender performance in surgery. The aim of this study is to outline gender performance in assessments performed in the Core Surgical Training program in Ireland.

A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using data collected by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) during the Core Surgical Training program. Descriptive analysis using Stata Statical Software (Release 18) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate any observed differences between genders in assessments performed during the first two years of surgical training in CST1 and CST2. Regression analysis then assessed the relationship between technical and non-technical assessments. The assessments include all data collected in in house end of year OSCE examination, work based assessments and summation assessment reports.

The analyses revealed no statistically significant gender differences in performance across technical and non-technical assessments. In first year, the scores between males and females were similar for Human Factors (0.11, 95% CI -1.45, 1.26), Operative Surgical Skills (0.19, 95% CI -0.80,1.19) and combined scores. There was also no significant interaction between gender and non-technical skills in predicting technical skills.

This study found no gender-based differences in skills assessed over the past decade, suggesting that gender does not impact performance outcomes in early surgical training. These results contribute to the ongoing dialogue about gender equity in surgical training and provide bases that the gender differences found in surgical career trajectories are not based on skills alone. Where the differences in career advancement arise requires further investigation.