Influence of Factors Relating to Sex and Gender on Rank List Decisions and Perceptions of Residency Training: Survey Study

Abstract

Background: Females make up more than half of medical school matriculants but only one-third of emergency medicine (EM) residents. Various factors may contribute to why fewer females choose the field of EM, such as the existing presence of females in the specialty. Objective: This study is a follow-up to previous work, and a survey is used to assess current residents' attitudes and perceptions on various factors, including those relating to sex and gender on creating rank lists as medical students and in perceived effects on residency education. Methods: A web-based survey consisting of Likert scale questions regarding a variety of factors influencing a student's decision to create a rank list and in perceived effects on residency education was sent to current EM residents in 2020. Results: Residents from 17 programs participated in the survey with an 18.2% (138/758) response rate. The most important factors in creating a rank list were the personality of residents in the program, location, and facility type. For factors specifically related to gender, respondents who answered affirmatively to whether the gender composition of residents affected the selection of a program in making a rank list were more likely to also answer affirmatively to subsequent questions related to the gender of program leadership (P