Why are women deterred from general surgery training?
BACKGROUND
This study explored the factors contributing to the low application rates to general surgery (GS) residency by female students and compared perceptions of GS between students and female surgeons.


METHODS
We distributed surveys to final-year students at 4 medical schools and nationwide to every female general surgeon in Canada.


RESULTS
Of students who were deterred from GS, women were less likely than men to meet a same-sex GS role model and more likely to experience gender-based discrimination during their GS rotation (P < .05). Female students had the perception that GS was incompatible with a rewarding family life, happy marriage, or having children, whereas female surgeons were far more positive about their career choice.


CONCLUSIONS
Both real and perceived barriers may deter women from a career in GS. Real barriers include sex-based discrimination and a lack of female role models in GS. There are also clear differences in perception between students and surgeons regarding family and lifestyle in GS that must be addressed.
Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3A 1R9. j.park@utoronto.ca
Jason
J
Park
Sam
S
Minor
Rebecca Anne
RA
Taylor
Elena
E
Vikis
Dan
D
Poenaru
D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce