TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Research Gender Disparities in Radiology
AU - Jabal, Mohamed Sobhi
AU - Ibrahim, Mohamed K.
AU - McDonald, Jennifer S.
AU - Shehata, Mostafa A.
AU - Kobeissi, Hassan
AU - Ghozy, Sherief
AU - Bilgin, Cem
AU - Brinjikji, Waleed
AU - Kallmes, David F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Association of University Radiologists
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Rationale and Objectives: Gender disparities have long existed in radiology. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted research activities worldwide and have impacted gender disparities across medical specialties. This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender disparities in radiology academic authorship. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from 110 843 global and 23 977 US radiology articles. The gender of authors was determined using an automated gender inference tool. Descriptive statistics were applied to explore authorship changes overall globally, in the US as well as across countries and states. Results: Female first-authorship increased globally from 16.9% to 17.6% (p < 0.001), and in the US, from 19.0% to 19.6% (p = 0.19) in the peri-COVID period. The combined female percentage increased from 19.7% to 20.0% globally (p = 0.021), and from 20.2% to 21.1% in the US (p = 0.006). Country-level analysis revealed significant increases in female authorship in Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, and Japan, while New Zealand demonstrated a decrease in female authorship. In the US, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Ohio experienced increases in female authorship, whereas South Carolina demonstrated a decrease in female authorship. Conclusion: In contrast with other medical fields, the study demonstrates that radiology experienced a slight increase in female authorship in radiology research globally and in the US during the COVID period. While the pandemic may have influenced these findings, further research is needed to establish regional causal relationships and identify best practices for promoting gender equity in radiology research.
AB - Rationale and Objectives: Gender disparities have long existed in radiology. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted research activities worldwide and have impacted gender disparities across medical specialties. This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender disparities in radiology academic authorship. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from 110 843 global and 23 977 US radiology articles. The gender of authors was determined using an automated gender inference tool. Descriptive statistics were applied to explore authorship changes overall globally, in the US as well as across countries and states. Results: Female first-authorship increased globally from 16.9% to 17.6% (p < 0.001), and in the US, from 19.0% to 19.6% (p = 0.19) in the peri-COVID period. The combined female percentage increased from 19.7% to 20.0% globally (p = 0.021), and from 20.2% to 21.1% in the US (p = 0.006). Country-level analysis revealed significant increases in female authorship in Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, and Japan, while New Zealand demonstrated a decrease in female authorship. In the US, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Ohio experienced increases in female authorship, whereas South Carolina demonstrated a decrease in female authorship. Conclusion: In contrast with other medical fields, the study demonstrates that radiology experienced a slight increase in female authorship in radiology research globally and in the US during the COVID period. While the pandemic may have influenced these findings, further research is needed to establish regional causal relationships and identify best practices for promoting gender equity in radiology research.
KW - Academic research
KW - COVID-19
KW - Gender disparity
KW - Radiology
KW - Science
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85174460668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85174460668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.acra.2023.09.032
DO - 10.1016/j.acra.2023.09.032
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85174460668
SN - 1076-6332
VL - 31
SP - 1265
EP - 1271
JO - Academic radiology
JF - Academic radiology
IS - 4
ER -