Gender Differences in Medical Student Interest in Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: The majority of orthopaedic residents match into fellowship in the subspecialty they are most interested in at the start of residency, however there is a lack of understanding of medical student interest in orthopaedic subspecialties. Our objective was to determine interest in arthroplasty among medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery, and to identify factors contributing to student interest and disinterest..

Methods: An anonymous online survey was developed and distributed to medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery at 23 United States allopathic and osteopathic medical schools through their school administrators. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables.

Results: 183 medical students (56% female) completed the survey for an estimated 29% response rate. Significantly fewer female medical students were interested in adult reconstruction compared to their male counterparts (10% versus 29%, p = 0.004). The most commonly identified factors contributing to interest by female students were interest in the subject matter (100%) and patient population (70%), while male students most commonly identified clinical experience (74%) and presence of a mentor (63%). Significantly fewer female medical students received the suggestion to pursue arthroplasty compared to males (0% versus 11%, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Female medical students are significantly less interested in arthroplasty and receive significantly less encouragement to consider arthroplasty than their male counterparts. Factors influencing both interest and disinterest in orthopaedic subspecialties differ between male and female medical students.Level of Evidence: V.

Keywords: diversity; equity; gender; medical education.

Figure 1A to 1B

Proportion of female and male survey respondents (1A) interested in each subspecialty and (1B) disinterested in each subspecialty.

Figure 2A to 2B

(2A) Factors contributing to female and male survey respondents’ interest in any subspecialty and (2B) factors identified by female and male respondents as most important in contributing to subspecialty interest, including clinical experience, research experience, prior experience with the subspecialty outside of work in the medical field, presence of a mentor in the subspecialty, suggestion of others to consider the subspecialty, perceived personality fit, interest in the subject matter, interest in working with the specific patient population, lifestyle factors, earning potential, and other factors.

Figure 3A to 3B

(3A) Factors contributing to female and male survey respondents’ disinterest in any subspecialty and (3B) factors identified by female and male respondents as most important in contributing to subspecialty disinterest, including clinical experience, research experience, prior experience with the subspecialty outside of work in the medical field, absence of a mentor in the subspecialty, suggestion of others to avoid the subspecialty, perceived lack of personality fit, disinterest in the subject matter, disinterest in working with the specific patient population, lifestyle factors, earning potential, and other factors.

Figure 4A to 4D

(4A) Factors contributing to female and male survey respondents’ interest in arthroplasty, (4B) factors identified by female and male respondents as most important in contributing to interest in arthroplasty, (4C) factors contributing to female and male respondents’ disinterest in arthroplasty, and (4D) factors identified by female and male respondents as most important contributing to disinterest in arthroplasty, including clinical experience, research experience, prior experience with the subspecialty outside of work in the medical field, presence of a mentor in the subspecialty, suggestion of others to consider the subspecialty, perceived personality fit, interest in the subject matter, interest in working with the specific patient population, lifestyle factors, earning potential, and other factors.

Figure 5A to 5B

Proportion of female and male respondents encouraged to (5A) pursue or (5B) avoid a subspecialty.

Figure 6A to 6B

Reasons given to female and male respondents to (6A) pursue or (6B) avoid a subspecialty, including no reason given, personality fit, ability, or lack thereof, to perform surgical procedures, patient population, lifestyle factors, earning potential, job market, or other factors.