Breaking barriers: Analysing the professional landscape for female gynaecological surgeons in Italy

Abstract

Objective

To examine the status of female gynaecological surgeons in Italy in terms of discriminatory practices and the availability of opportunities for improvement within the operating theatre.

Methods

This study is a subanalysis of a comprehensive 83-item questionnaire, administered to 3242 female surgeons across various specialties from 1 November to 31 December 2020. This study focuses specifically on 219 female gynaecological surgeons in order to explore their unique experiences and challenges in surgical practice.

Main outcome measures

Data concerning subjective satisfaction of respondents were collected. Satisfaction was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. Data are presented using mean, median or frequency.

Results

This subanalysis included 207 respondents. Among the respondents, 47 % reported that they had children, while 31 % had decided not to have children for professional reasons. Nearly half of the respondents (42 %) were trainees. Despite a considerable workload (mean working week of 45 h), 96 % of the respondents reported spending less than half of their working time in the operating theatre. They performed a median of two operations per week, compared with five operations for their male counterparts. Despite challenges, 65 % expressed a commitment to their career path.

Conclusions

Efforts to address gender bias, promote work–life balance, and enhance female leadership representation are essential. These findings emphasize the need for systemic changes to create a supportive environment for female gynaecologists. Further research with broader sampling is warranted to fully understand and address these challenges.