Gender Disparities in Critical Care Procedure Training of Internal Medicine Residents

Background: Procedural training is a required competency in internal medicine (IM) residency, yet limited data exist on residents' experience of procedural training. Objectives: We sought to understand how gender impacts access to procedural training among IM residents. Methods: A mixed-methods, explanatory sequential study was performed. Procedure volume for IM residents between 2016 and 2020 was assessed at two large academic residencies (Program A and Program B: 399 residents and 4,020 procedures). Procedural rates and actual versus expected procedure volume by gender were com-pared, with separate analyses by clinical environment (intensive care unit [ICU] or structured procedural service). Semistructured gender-congruent focus groups were conducted. Topics included identity formation as a proceduralist and the resident pro-cedural learning experience, including perceived gender bias in procedure allocation. Results: Compared with men, women residents performed disproportionately fewer ICU procedures per month at Program A (1.4 vs. 2.7; P< 0.05) but not at Program B (0.36 vs. 0.54; P = 0.23). At Program A, women performed only 47% of ICU procedures, significantly fewer than the 54% they were expected to perform on the basis of their time on ICU rotations (P< 0.001). For equal gender distribution of procedural volume at Program A, 11% of the procedures performed by men would have needed to have been performed by women instead. Gender was not associated with differences in the Program A structured procedural service (53% observed vs. 52% expected; P = 0.935), Program B structured procedural service (40% observed vs. 43% expected; P = 0.174), or in Program B ICUs (33% observed vs. 34% expected; P = 0.656). Focus group analysis identified that women from both residencies perceived that assertiveness was required for procedural training in unstructured learning environments. Residents felt that gender influenced access to procedural opportunities, ability to self-advocate for procedural experience, identity formation as a proceduralist, and confidence in acquiring procedural skills. Conclusion: Gender disparities in access to procedural training during ICU rotations were seen at one institution but not another. There were ubiquitous perceptions that assertiveness was important to access procedural opportunities. We hypothesize that structured allocation of procedures would mitigate disparities by allowing all residents to access procedural training regardless of self-advocacy. Residency programs should adopt structured procedural training programs to counteract inequities.

Automated summary

This study explored the experiences of internal medicine residents in procedural training and investigated the impact of gender on access to procedural training. The results showed that female residents performed fewer procedures in the intensive care unit at one institution, but no significant difference was found at another institution. Focus group analysis revealed that assertiveness was perceived as important for accessing procedural opportunities by female residents. The conclusion is that residency programs should adopt structured procedural training programs to address inequities.