Gender equity in academic rheumatology, current status and potential for improvement: a cross-sectional study to inform an EULAR task force

Ovseiko P, Gossec L, Andreoli L, Kiltz U, Van Mens L, Hassan N, Van Der Leeden M, Siddle HJ, Alunno A, Mcinnes IB, Damjanov NS, Apparailly F, Ospelt C, Van Der Horst-Bruinsma IE, Nikiphorou E, Druce KL, Szekanecz Z, Sepriano A, Avcin T, Bertsias G, Schett G, Keenan AM, Pololi LH, Coates LC (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Book Volume: 8

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002518

Abstract

Objectives Evidence on the current status of gender equity in academic rheumatology in Europe and potential for its improvement is limited. The EULAR convened a task force to obtain empirical evidence on the potential unmet need for support of female rheumatologists, health professionals and non-clinical scientists in academic rheumatology. Methods This cross-sectional study comprised three web-based surveys conducted in 2020 among: (1) EULAR scientific member society leaders, (2) EULAR and Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET) members and (3) EULAR Council members. Statistics were descriptive with significance testing for male/female responses assessed by chi(2) test and t-test. Results Data from EULAR scientific member societies in 13 countries indicated that there were disproportionately fewer women in academic rheumatology than in clinical rheumatology, and they tended to be under-represented in senior academic roles. From 324 responses of EULAR and EMEUNET members (24 countries), we detected no gender differences in leadership aspirations, self-efficacy in career advancement and work-life integration as well as the share of time spent on research, but there were gender differences in working hours and the levels of perceived gender discrimination and sexual harassment. There were gender differences in the ranking of 7 of 26 factors impacting career advancement and of 8 of 24 potential interventions to aid career advancement. Conclusions There are gender differences in career advancement in academic rheumatology. The study informs a EULAR task force developing a framework of potential interventions to accelerate gender-equitable career advancement in academic rheumatology.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

University of Oxford United Kingdom (GB) University of Debrecen / Debreceni Egyetem Hungary (HU) Leiden University Netherlands (NL) Ljubljana University Medical Centre (Ljubljana UMC) / Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana Slovenia (SI) University of Crete / Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης Greece (GR) University of Leeds United Kingdom (GB) University of Paris 4 - Paris-Sorbonne / Université paris IV Paris-Sorbonne France (FR) University of Montpellier / Université Montpellier France (FR) Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ) Switzerland (CH) Università degli Studi di Brescia Italy (IT) Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) Germany (DE) Amsterdam Rheumatology & immunology Center (ARC) Netherlands (NL) North Bristol NHS Trust United Kingdom (GB) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam Netherlands (NL) University of L'Aquila / Università degli Studi dell'Aquila Italy (IT) University of Glasgow United Kingdom (GB) University of Belgrade / Универзитет у Београду Serbia (RS) University of Amsterdam Netherlands (NL) King's College Hospital (KCH) United Kingdom (GB) University of Manchester United Kingdom (GB) Brandeis University United States (USA) (US) Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Ovseiko, P., Gossec, L., Andreoli, L., Kiltz, U., Van Mens, L., Hassan, N.,... Coates, L.C. (2022). Gender equity in academic rheumatology, current status and potential for improvement: a cross-sectional study to inform an EULAR task force. RMD Open, 8(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002518

MLA:

Ovseiko, Pavel, et al. "Gender equity in academic rheumatology, current status and potential for improvement: a cross-sectional study to inform an EULAR task force." RMD Open 8.2 (2022).

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