[Gender distribution of scientific contributions at German ophthalmological conferences-a baseline study].

Abstract

Background: The proportion of female ophthalmologists in Germany has risen to approximately 50% in recent years, and approximately 66% of medical students are women. This represents a reversal of the past situation with a male predominance. Despite this change, many international studies show that women are still underrepresented at scientific conferences, particularly among invited speakers, chairpersons, and program committees. This study aims to investigate whether these differences in gender representation are also reflected at German ophthalmological congresses and whether the situation has changed in recent years.

Methods: Data collection covered the years 2013, 2022, and 2023 and included the congresses of the five large German ophthalmological associations: the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG), German Ophthalmic Surgical Society (DOC), German Ophthalmological Academy (AAD), German Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (DGII) and the German Retinological Society (RG). Data were collected based on online programs and information provided by the offices and the managing committees. The numbers of female and male speakers and chairpersons were identified, as were the gender distributions of the specific program committees.

Results: Overall, the percentage of female speakers across all years and conferences surveyed averaged 25%, while female chairs averaged 17%. The percentage of females in the program committees ranged from 0% to 17%. There was an increase in the percentage of female speakers over 10 years (2013-2023). For the DOG (p_trend < 0.01) and the DOC (p_trend = 0.01) there was a significant rise, while it was highest at the DOG (37%) and lowest at the DGII (11%). The percentage of female chairs was in general lower than the percentage of female speakers for all conferences (between 11% and 26% in 2023). Only for the DOG was there a statistically significant increase over the 10 years (p_trend < 0.01).

Conclusion: The representation of women as speakers and chairpersons at German ophthalmology conferences is low; these continue to be predominantly male dominated. Although there has been an increase in female representation over time, it remains lower than the overall proportion of women in the profession in 2023. Significant differences are observed between the various ophthalmological conferences. Further investigation into the underrepresentation of women at these conferences is necessary, and measures to encourage greater female participation at congresses should be implemented.