SynthesisPloS one2021
The unspoken reality of gender bias in surgery: A qualitative systematic review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 69 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
69 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 151 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- The Challenges Experienced By Female Surgeons in Africa: A Systematic Review.World journal of surgery · 2022Pooled it
- The perspectives of health professionals and patients on racism in healthcare: A qualitative systematic review.PloS one · 2021Pooled it
- Training climate matters: programmatic openness, individual belonging, and trainee mistreatment in graduate medical education.Medical education online · 2026Article
- Gender bias, job satisfaction, and burnout among surgeons: Evidence from Korea.Surgery open science · 2026Article
- The global surgical workforce crisis: narrative review of the role of surgical educator development and technological innovations.Surgery today · 2026Review
- Factors in Considering and Adopting Part-Time Work Schedules Among Early-Career Physicians.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Early exposure to a career in surgery through a hands-on robotics seminar for teenage girls.Surgery today · 2026Article
- Article
- Breaking the scalpel ceiling: Gender inequality in global transplant surgery.World journal of methodology · 2026Article
- Gender Discrimination Against Women in Surgery Is Due to Implicit Bias Rather Than Quantifiable Differences in Clinical Performance.The Permanente journal · 2026Article
- The Fading Flame: Declining Burn Surgical Exposure in Plastic Surgery Residency Training: A 9-year Review of 1902 Graduates.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Re-educating the surgical culture, is it possible?Canadian medical education journal · 2026Article
- Fairness, Consistency and Bias in the RACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination.ANZ journal of surgery · 2026Article
- Mediating Factors and Well-Being Differences by Gender Among Academic Physicians.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- When Artificial Intelligence Fails the Future: How Unchecked Artificial Intelligence Could Amplify Inequality in Medical Education.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Between languages and scalpels: a woman's journey in a foreign neurosurgery residency.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Article
- Leading with Impact: Transformational Leadership Among Women Surgeons - A Qualitative Study.Journal of healthcare leadership · 2026Article
- Article
- Perceptions and Barriers to Surgical Training of Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Cureus · 2025Article
9 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis study was conducted to better understand the pervasive gender barriers obstructing the progression of women in surgery by synthesising the perspectives of both female surgical trainees and surgeons.
methodsFive electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection, were searched for relevant articles. Following a full-text review by three authors, qualitative data was synthesized thematically according to the Thomas and Harden methodology and quality assessment was conducted by two authors reaching a consensus.
resultsFourteen articles were included, with unfavorable work environments, male-dominated culture and societal pressures being major themes. Females in surgery lacked support, faced harassment, and had unequal opportunities, which were often exacerbated by sex-blindness by their male counterparts. Mothers were especially affected, struggling to achieve a work-life balance while facing strong criticism. However, with increasing recognition of the unique professional traits of female surgeons, there is progress towards gender quality which requires continued and sustained efforts.
conclusionThis systematic review sheds light on the numerous gender barriers that continue to stand in the way of female surgeons despite progress towards gender equality over the years. As the global agenda towards equality progresses, this review serves as a call-to-action to increase collective effort towards gender inclusivity which will significantly improve future health outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.