TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender Differences in Modality Interpretation Among Radiologists
T2 - An Exploratory Study of Occupational Horizontal Segregation
AU - Sadigh, Gelareh
AU - Duszak, Richard
AU - Macura, Katarzyna J.
AU - Rosenkrantz, Andrew B.
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Sadigh is supported by RSNA seed grant ( RSD1816 ) and AUR GERRAF award. Drs. Duszak and Rosenkrantz are supported by research grants from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Association of University Radiologists
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - Rationale and Objectives: Occupational “horizontal segregation,” defined as disparity in the distribution of responsibilities between genders, could discourage women from seeking careers in radiology, as well as impact women within radiology in terms of compensation, promotion, and career advancement. We aimed to explore the existence of horizontal workplace segregation in radiology, as potentially manifested as intergender differences in the distribution of clinical work effort among imaging modalities for radiologists. Materials and Methods: Medicare-participating general radiologists, neuroradiologists, abdominal, cardiothoracic, and musculoskeletal radiologists were identified from the 2016 Medicare Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File. Work effort in radiography, ultrasound, CT, and MRI was stratified by gender. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: 22,445 radiologists were included (19.0% female; 19.6% in academic practices). At univariable analysis, female (vs. male) generalists had lower work effort in MRI (10.2% vs. 13.2%) (p < 0.001); abdominal radiologists had higher work effort in ultrasound (27.1% vs. 21.9%), with lower work effort in CT (53.7%. vs. 56.0%) and MRI (8.1%. vs. 9.4%) (p < 0.001); and musculoskeletal radiologists had higher work effort in radiography (41.6% vs. 34.8%) and less in MRI (44.8% vs. 49.6%) (p = 0.007). In multivariable analyses, female gender was independently associated with lower work effort in advanced imaging (CT and MRI) for generalists (coefficient, −0.020; p < 0.001), abdominal radiologists (coefficient, −0.042; p < 0.001), and neuroradiologists (coefficient −0.010; p = 0.035). Conclusion: Horizontal occupational segregation exists in radiology with female radiologists devoting lower work effort to advanced imaging modalities. Further investigation is warranted to better understand the sources and downstream implications of such variation.
AB - Rationale and Objectives: Occupational “horizontal segregation,” defined as disparity in the distribution of responsibilities between genders, could discourage women from seeking careers in radiology, as well as impact women within radiology in terms of compensation, promotion, and career advancement. We aimed to explore the existence of horizontal workplace segregation in radiology, as potentially manifested as intergender differences in the distribution of clinical work effort among imaging modalities for radiologists. Materials and Methods: Medicare-participating general radiologists, neuroradiologists, abdominal, cardiothoracic, and musculoskeletal radiologists were identified from the 2016 Medicare Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File. Work effort in radiography, ultrasound, CT, and MRI was stratified by gender. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: 22,445 radiologists were included (19.0% female; 19.6% in academic practices). At univariable analysis, female (vs. male) generalists had lower work effort in MRI (10.2% vs. 13.2%) (p < 0.001); abdominal radiologists had higher work effort in ultrasound (27.1% vs. 21.9%), with lower work effort in CT (53.7%. vs. 56.0%) and MRI (8.1%. vs. 9.4%) (p < 0.001); and musculoskeletal radiologists had higher work effort in radiography (41.6% vs. 34.8%) and less in MRI (44.8% vs. 49.6%) (p = 0.007). In multivariable analyses, female gender was independently associated with lower work effort in advanced imaging (CT and MRI) for generalists (coefficient, −0.020; p < 0.001), abdominal radiologists (coefficient, −0.042; p < 0.001), and neuroradiologists (coefficient −0.010; p = 0.035). Conclusion: Horizontal occupational segregation exists in radiology with female radiologists devoting lower work effort to advanced imaging modalities. Further investigation is warranted to better understand the sources and downstream implications of such variation.
KW - Gender
KW - Horizontal segregation
KW - Radiology
KW - Work effort
KW - Workplace
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U2 - 10.1016/j.acra.2019.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.acra.2019.06.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 31281081
AN - SCOPUS:85068268079
SN - 1076-6332
VL - 27
SP - 710
EP - 714
JO - Academic radiology
JF - Academic radiology
IS - 5
ER -