Policy and attitude-related reasons for gender disparity in post allocation for graduate medical education in Austria.
OBJECTIVE
A previous study found that in Austria 50.3% physicians (m: 43.2%, f: 58.6%) have not attained their chosen specialty. We aimed to explore the policy - and attitude-related reasons for gender disparity in training post allocation.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study used a quantitative and a qualitative method. A self-administered 12-item questionnaire was sent twice to all 8127 licensed Viennese physicians. Physicians' opinions regarding why the chosen medical specialty was not attained were analyzed. To estimate the responder bias respondents from the first and second mailing were compared.


RESULTS
A total of 2736 questionnaires (34%) were returned. When a specialty is favored by men, the chance for women to achieve that specialty decreases. According to the qualitative results, men were more often ready to accept training in a specialty different from the one originally desired. Female physicians were put at a disadvantage by consultants due to organizational considerations and sex-stereotyping.


CONCLUSIONS
According to physicians' self-reported opinions, consultants do not place female candidates at disadvantage as a result of an unconscious process but mainly based on reasoning about organizational aspects and sex-stereotyping. Several explanations for the phenomenon that men are more often ready to accept training in a specialty different from the one originally desired were identified.
Spiegel
Wolfgang
W
Department of General Practice, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. wolfgang.spiegel@meduniwien.ac.at
Kamenski
Gustav
G
Sibitz
Ingrid
I
Schneider
Barbara
B
Maier
Manfred
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011640:Public Policy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors