GENDER EQUITY AMONG GYNECOLOGICAL SURGEONS IS STILL A MYTH: A NATIONAL SURVEY IN ITALY

Objective: this study seeks to examine the status of female gynecological surgeons in Italy concerning both discriminatory practices and the availability of opportunities of improvement within the operating theatre. Design: , setting and population: a National Survey addressed to a group of 3242 female surgeons all over Italy carried out and approved by the members of “Women in Surgery Italia”. Methods: : the survey was conducted from November 1 to December 31, 2020, gathering data from 219 female gynecologists out of 3242 surveyed across Italy. The survey focused on various professional aspects, particularly surgical practice. Main outcome measures: we collected data concerning subjective satisfactions by respondents. Satisfaction was evaluated with a 5-points LIKERT scale. Data were described calculating mean, median or frequency. Results: : this sub-analysis includes these 207 respondents. Among respondents, 47% reported having children, while 31% opted out of parenthood due to professional reasons. Nearly half of them were trainees (42%). Despite a considerable workload (with a mean workingweek of 45 hours), 96% of the participants reported spending less than half of their worktime in the operating theater. They performed a median of 2 surgical operations per week, compared to 5 for male counterparts. Despite challenges, 65% expressed a commitment to their career path. Conclusions: : efforts to address gender bias, promote work-life balance, and enhance female leadership representation are essential. These findings emphasize the need for systemic changes to create a supportive environment for female gynecologists. Further research with broader sampling is warranted to fully understand and address these challenges.