To assess perceptions of gender discrimination among surgeons in the Anglophone Caribbean.
Key Findings:
64% of respondents observed discrimination against women surgeons, while only 4% reported discrimination against men surgeons.
No statistically significant gender-based differences were found in clinical judgment or surgical skill.
47% of respondents perceived women surgeons as more thorough compared to 2% for men.
60% of respondents perceived women surgeons as better in task completion compared to 24% for men.
Interpretation:
The findings indicate perceptions of gender bias in the surgical community, although the study did not directly measure implicit bias or establish causality.
Limitations:
Survey-based design relying on subjective perceptions rather than objective clinical outcomes.
Absence of validated implicit-bias assessment tools.
Respondent pool had more men than women, potentially influencing findings.
Limited generalizability due to the study being confined to a single regional professional association.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the need for addressing gender bias in the surgical workforce.
