Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field
Purpose The field of ophthalmology must become more reflective of the increasingly diverse U.S. population. This study characterizes students intending to pursue ophthalmology and practice in an underserved area versus other surgical and nonsurgical fields. Subjects Deidentified responses...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Academic Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1760834 |
| _version_ | 1811176165435506688 |
|---|---|
| author | John Chhoa John Jawiche Priya A. Uppal Thilaka Arunachalam Mytien Nguyen Branden Eggan Hyacinth Mason Jacqueline Busingye |
| author_facet | John Chhoa John Jawiche Priya A. Uppal Thilaka Arunachalam Mytien Nguyen Branden Eggan Hyacinth Mason Jacqueline Busingye |
| author_sort | John Chhoa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose The field of ophthalmology must become more reflective of the increasingly diverse U.S. population. This study characterizes students intending to pursue ophthalmology and practice in an underserved area versus other surgical and nonsurgical fields.
Subjects Deidentified responses from 92,080 U.S. MD students who matriculated in the academic years beginning from 2007 to 2011 were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaires.
Methods Study participants were those who fully completed the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire. Chi-squared and multivariate logistical regressions were used for analyses.
Results Ophthalmology intending graduates (OIG; n = 1,177) compared with other surgical intending graduates (n = 7,955) were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28–1.66), Asian (1.71 [1.46–2.01]), and have conducted a research project with a faculty member (1.58 [1.26–1.98]). OIG compared with nonsurgery intending graduates (n = 35,865) were more likely to have completed a research project with a faculty member (4.78 [3.86–5.92]), to be Asian (1.4 [1.21–1.62]), and have received scholarships (1.18 [1.04–1.34]). OIG were less likely to be female (0.64 [0.57–0.73]) and Black/African American (0.5 [0.33–0.74]). Among OIG, Black/African American students and multiracial students were more likely than non-Hispanic (NH) White students to report intention to practice in underserved areas (IPUA; 14.29 [1.82–111.88] and 2.5 [1.06–5.92]), respectively. OIG with global health experience were more likely to report IPUA (1.64 [1.2–2.25]).
Conclusion Females and underrepresented in medicine (URM), respectively, were more likely to be nonsurgery intending graduates than OIG, which, if not addressed, may lead to a persistent underrepresentation of these groups in the field. In addition, URM students, including African American students, were more likely to report IPUA, which further emphasizes the importance of more URM students entering the field to address these growing gaps in medical care. Finally, we recommend increased mentorship to help address these disparities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:48:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2bdc53de39f4c95ac44d6583ad3d391 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2475-4757 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:48:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Academic Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2bdc53de39f4c95ac44d6583ad3d3912023-01-28T23:44:55ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.Journal of Academic Ophthalmology2475-47572023-01-011501e24e3510.1055/s-0043-1760834Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the FieldJohn Chhoa0John Jawiche1Priya A. Uppal2Thilaka Arunachalam3Mytien Nguyen4Branden Eggan5Hyacinth Mason6Jacqueline Busingye7Albany Medical College, Albany, New YorkAlbany Medical College, Albany, New YorkAlbany Medical College, Albany, New YorkAlbany Medical College, Albany, New YorkYale School of Medicine, New Haven, ConnecticutDepartment of Nursing, Siena College, Loudonville, New YorkOffice of Student Affairs, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsDepartment of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New YorkPurpose The field of ophthalmology must become more reflective of the increasingly diverse U.S. population. This study characterizes students intending to pursue ophthalmology and practice in an underserved area versus other surgical and nonsurgical fields. Subjects Deidentified responses from 92,080 U.S. MD students who matriculated in the academic years beginning from 2007 to 2011 were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaires. Methods Study participants were those who fully completed the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire. Chi-squared and multivariate logistical regressions were used for analyses. Results Ophthalmology intending graduates (OIG; n = 1,177) compared with other surgical intending graduates (n = 7,955) were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28–1.66), Asian (1.71 [1.46–2.01]), and have conducted a research project with a faculty member (1.58 [1.26–1.98]). OIG compared with nonsurgery intending graduates (n = 35,865) were more likely to have completed a research project with a faculty member (4.78 [3.86–5.92]), to be Asian (1.4 [1.21–1.62]), and have received scholarships (1.18 [1.04–1.34]). OIG were less likely to be female (0.64 [0.57–0.73]) and Black/African American (0.5 [0.33–0.74]). Among OIG, Black/African American students and multiracial students were more likely than non-Hispanic (NH) White students to report intention to practice in underserved areas (IPUA; 14.29 [1.82–111.88] and 2.5 [1.06–5.92]), respectively. OIG with global health experience were more likely to report IPUA (1.64 [1.2–2.25]). Conclusion Females and underrepresented in medicine (URM), respectively, were more likely to be nonsurgery intending graduates than OIG, which, if not addressed, may lead to a persistent underrepresentation of these groups in the field. In addition, URM students, including African American students, were more likely to report IPUA, which further emphasizes the importance of more URM students entering the field to address these growing gaps in medical care. Finally, we recommend increased mentorship to help address these disparities.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1760834diversityunderrepresented minoritiesmedically underserved areas |
| spellingShingle | John Chhoa John Jawiche Priya A. Uppal Thilaka Arunachalam Mytien Nguyen Branden Eggan Hyacinth Mason Jacqueline Busingye Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field Journal of Academic Ophthalmology diversity underrepresented minorities medically underserved areas |
| title | Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field |
| title_full | Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field |
| title_fullStr | Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field |
| title_short | Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field |
| title_sort | race and gender in ophthalmology a national analysis of medical students with intention to pursue the field |
| topic | diversity underrepresented minorities medically underserved areas |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1760834 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnchhoa raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT johnjawiche raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT priyaauppal raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT thilakaarunachalam raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT mytiennguyen raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT brandeneggan raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT hyacinthmason raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield AT jacquelinebusingye raceandgenderinophthalmologyanationalanalysisofmedicalstudentswithintentiontopursuethefield |