title: Mentoring perception, scientific collaboration and research performance: is there a 'gender gap' in academic medicine? An Academic Health Science Centre perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 'gender gap' in academic medicine remains significant and predominantly favours males. This study investigates gender disparities in research performance in an Academic Health Science Centre, while considering factors such as mentoring and scientific collaboration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Professorial registry-based electronic survey (n=215) using bibliometric data, a mentoring perception survey and social network analysis. Survey outcomes were aggregated with measures of research performance (publications, citations and h-index) and measures of scientific collaboration (authorship position, centrality and social capital). Univariate and multivariate regression models were constructed to evaluate inter-relationships and identify gender differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and four professors responded (48% response rate). Males had a significantly higher number of previous publications than females (mean 131.07 (111.13) vs 79.60 (66.52), p=0.049). The distribution of mentoring survey scores between males and females was similar for the quality and frequency of shared core, mentor-specific and mentee-specific skills. In multivariate analysis including gender as a variable, the quality of managing the relationship, frequency of providing corrective feedback and frequency of building trust had a statistically significant positive influence on number of publications (all p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study in healthcare research to investigate the relationship between mentoring perception, scientific collaboration and research performance in the context of gender. It presents a series of initiatives that proved effective in marginalising the gender gap. These include the Athena Scientific Women's Academic Network charter, new recruitment and advertisement strategies, setting up a 'Research and Family Life' forum, establishing mentoring circles for women and projecting female role models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Thanos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Vanash
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Hutan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashrafian
authors.affiliation: Health Service & Population Research Department, Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Health Service & Population Research Department, Centre for Implementation Science, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sevdalis
authors.affiliation: Equality Challenge Unit, Athena SWAN Charter, Gender Equity Charter Mark, London, UK National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
authors.affiliation: Warwick Business School, Coventry, West Midlands, UK.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paroutis
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010465:Perception; D011643:Publishing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D063507:Sexism; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training); MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING