Women in radiation oncology more likely to treat female cancer types vs. men faculty
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Key takeaways:
- Researchers identified the largest proportions of women faculty in breast, gynecology and pediatric specialties.
- Genitourinary, thoracic, and head and neck specialties had the smallest proportions of women faculty.
A higher proportion of women faculty members in academic radiation oncology treated cancer types associated with the female gender compared with men faculty, according to study results.
The findings, published in International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, warrant further research into the drivers of disease site selection by academic radiation oncology faculty, researchers concluded.
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Faculty assessment
“This research was prompted by an observation made during clinic and residency training,” Kelsey L. Corrigan, MD, MPH, radiation oncologist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Healio. “Radiation oncology stands out as one of the specialties with a smaller proportion of women, and prior studies have not comprehensively explored gender differences within radiation oncology. We were curious to find out if gender disparities exist in radiation oncology, and felt that understanding these differences would be crucial to addressing potential disparities and fostering a more inclusive environment that supports gender diversity in our field.”
Researchers sought to examine the relationship between gender and disease sites treated in academic radiation oncology. They gathered data via publicly available department websites in January 2020 and conducted Chi-square analyses to assess differences between proportions of women faculty treating each disease site.
Observed gender differences
Among a total of 1,337 academic radiation oncology faculty, 30.5% identified as women.
Results showed breast, gynecology and pediatrics departments had the largest proportions of women faculty (all > 40%; P < .001). More than half (53%) of academic radiation oncology women faculty treated breast cancer. Academic radiation oncology women had a twofold higher likelihood of treating breast (RR = 2.01; 95% CI, 1.75-2.5) and gynecologic RR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.72-2.79) malignancies compared with men and.
Conversely, genitourinary, thoracic, and head and neck cancer departments included the smallest proportions of women faculty (all < 25%; P < .001). Academic radiation oncology men had a threefold higher likelihood of treating genitourinary cancer compared with women faculty (RR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.34-0.48).
Researchers observed no difference in the mean number of disease sites treated between women and men faculty (2.63 vs. 2.53; P = 0.29).
“Our results did not surprise me,” Corrigan said. “The gender disparities in specialization, particularly the high proportion of women radiation oncologists in breast and gynecologic cancer treatment, were somewhat expected given traditional gender roles and interests. However, the extent of these differences and the marked underrepresentation of women in certain specializations, like genitourinary, thoracic, and head and neck cancers, were surprising and highlight the need for future research to investigate the etiologies for this disparity.”
Research needs
Future research should include a dive into the underlying factors driving these gender-based differences in disease site selection within academic radiation oncology, Corrigan told Healio.
“This could include examining the impact of mentorship, professional networks, personal interests, work-life balance considerations and potential systemic biases,” she said. “Additionally, efforts should be made to investigate the impact of gender-based disparities in radiation oncology physicians on patient preferences and care delivery.
“Our study underscores the presence of gender-based disparities in disease site specialization within academic radiation oncology,” Corrigan continued. “Identifying the etiologies of these disparities is essential for promoting a more diverse and equitable workforce.”
For more information:
Kelsey L. Corrigan, MD, MPH, can be reached at kelseycorrigan@gmail.com.
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