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Comment
. 2018 Oct 21;3(6):e000389.
doi: 10.1136/esmoopen-2018-000389. eCollection 2018.

Gender influence on professional satisfaction and gender issue perception among young oncologists. A survey of the Young Oncologists Working Group of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)

Maria Vittoria Dieci  1   2 , Francesco Massari  3 , Raffaele Giusti  4 , Alessandro Inno  5 , Giuseppe Lombardi  6 , Laura Noto  7 , Antonio Passaro  8 , Filippo Pietrantonio  9   10 , Francesca Spada  11 , Monica Valente  12 , Massimo Di Maio  13   14 , Valter Torri  15
Affiliations
Comment

Gender influence on professional satisfaction and gender issue perception among young oncologists. A survey of the Young Oncologists Working Group of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)

Maria Vittoria Dieci et al. ESMO Open. .

Abstract

Background: The professional gender gap is increasingly recognised in oncology. We explored gender issues perception and gender influence on professional satisfaction/gratification among young Italian oncologists.

Methods: Italian oncologists aged ≤40 years and members of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology were invited to participate in an online survey addressing workload/burnout, satisfaction in professional abilities and relations, relevant factors for professional gratification, and gender barriers. χ2 test for general association or χ2 test for trend was used to analyse the data.

Results: 201 young oncologists participated in the survey: 67% female, 71% aged 30-40 years, 41% still in training and 82% without children. Women and men were equally poorly satisfied by the relations with people occupying superior hierarchical positions. There was heterogeneity between women and men in current (p=0.011) and expected future (p=0.007) satisfaction in professional abilities: women were more satisfied by current empathy and relations with colleagues and were more confident in their future managerial and team leader skills. The most important elements for professional gratification indicated by all participants were, in general, work-life balance (36%) and intellectual stimulation/research (32%); specifically for women, work-life balance (48%) and intellectual stimulation/research (20%); and specifically for men, career (29%) and social prestige/recognition (26%). Heterogeneity within the same gender emerged. For example, the elements indicated by men as the most important were intellectual stimulation/research (39%) and work-life balance (21%) in general, versus social prestige/recognition (24%) and career (24%), respectively, specifically for men (p<0.0001). More women versus men perceived gender issue as an actual problem (60% vs 38%, p=0.03); men underestimated gender barriers to women's career (p=0.011).

Conclusions: Satisfaction in professional abilities varied by gender. Work-life balance is important for both women and men. Stereotypes about gender issues may be present. Gender issue is an actual problem for young oncologists, mostly perceived by women.

Keywords: Burn-out; Gender Differences; Professional Satisfaction; Young Oncologists.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Burnout symptoms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Most important factors for professional gratification: in general (A), specifically for women (B) and specifically for men (C). Answers provided by all participants in green, by women in pink and by men in blue. Comparisons are provided in (D).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Barriers to women’s career (A), gender issue perception (B) and corrective actions (C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

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