[Gender patterns in Spanish otolaryngologic doctoral theses].
OBJECTIVE
In last decades women in Spain have a greater access to postgraduate education. The objective of this study was to perform a gender analysis on the Otolaryngology doctoral theses presented in a 25 year-period.


METHODS
The TESEO data base on doctoral theses was searched for theses on Otorhinolaryngology written between 1981 and 2005. As strategy for the research we employed the terms: 1) Otorrinolaringología (Otorhinolaryngology); 2) Cirugía de garganta, nariz y oídos (Ear, nose and throat surgery); 3) Fisiología de la audición (Physiology of hearing); 4) Fisiología del equilibrio (Physiology of balance); 5) Física de la audición (Physics of hearing); and 6) Bioacústica (Bioacoustics).


RESULTS
A total of 450 theses (18.0±8.3 theses/year) were found, of which 129 were written by females (28.6%). There was a gender imbalance among authors, with 5.2±3.4 theses/year for women vs. 12.9±6.6 theses/year for men (p=0.0002). Nevertheless, there was a tendency toward equality in the last 10 years (p=0.001). On the other hand, the PhD student's gender was clearly related to the supervisor's gender (p=0.0001). With respect to the main topics in our area (otology, audiology/vestibular diseases, rhinology and pathology of paranasal sinuses and neck diseases), there were no significant differences between males and females (p=0.231).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a tendency towards equality in the number of men and women successfully completing doctoral studies in Otolaryngology. However, the PhD student's gender is clearly related to the supervisor's gender.
Prim-Espada
María Pilar
MP
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
De Diego-Sastre
Juan Ignacio
JI
Pérez-Fernández
Elia
E
D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain