From presentation to paper: Gender disparities in oncological research.

Abstract

10523 Background: Gender discrepancies have been identified in authorships of scientific publications, grant applications, and peer review in many disciplines, including oncology. The exact share of women presenting results of oncological studies at large conferences is unknown, while the oral presentation of a study at such a podium enhances the international visibility and recognition of the presenting person. Therefore, we aim to identify gender-based differences in contributions to presentations at two major oncological conferences. Methods: We collected consecutive abstracts presented at the plenary sessions of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meetings and presidential sessions of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congresses. Sex of the presenters and abstract authors, study results (positive vs. negative), and subsequently published papers were identified. Chi square tests were used to compare the distribution of sex over time. The association between presenter’s or last author’s sex and study outcome and impact factors were analyzed using Chi square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. Results: Of available abstracts presented at ASCO between 2011 and 2018 (N = 34), and ESMO between 2008 and 2018 (N = 132), presenters were female in 24% and 21%, respectively. Female last authors were seen in 21% and 20% of these ASCO and ESMO abstracts. Of all contributing authors to these ASCO (N = 569) and ESMO (N = 1851) abstracts, 31% and 27% were female, respectively. The distribution of male and female ASCO and ESMO presenters (P = 0.580, P = 0.707, respectively) and abstract authors (P = 0.429, P = 0.062) was similar over the years. Of all abstracts, sex of the presenter or last abstract author were not associated with study outcomes (P = 0.718, P = 0.4331), nor with impact factor of subsequently published papers (P = 0.209, P = 0.661). Conclusions: There is a clear gender disparity in the presentation of oncological research at two main conferences, with less than a third of abstract authors female and less than a quarter of these studies presented by a woman. The lack of visibility of female researchers at presentations on these conferences could impair the acknowledgement for their research, opportunities in their academic career, and even hamper heterogeneity and outcomes in research.

Measuring and Fostering Diversity in Affective Computing Research

“…Similar results have been obtained in disciplines such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) [23] and Medicine (e.g. Paediatrics [24], Emergency Medicine [25] and Oncology [26]).…”

“…Queer in AI 26 2019 People with diverse non-normative sexual orientations, romantic orientations and/or genders, corresponding to acronyms like LGBTQ+.…”

Measuring and fostering diversity in Affective Computing research

“…Similar results have been obtained in disciplines such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) [18] and Medicine (e.g. Paediatrics [19], Emergency Medicine [20] and Oncology [21]).…”

Gender influence on work satisfaction and leadership for medical oncologists: a survey of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)

“…An analysis covering nearly a decade of annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and ESMO showed that only 21% of oral presentations were by women, that women represented 28% of all abstract authors, and that the proportion of female presenters has not changed significantly over this period. 4 Similarly, fewer women are recipients of prestigious rewards in the scientific and medical settings. 5 Female participation at an educative level in oncology training programs and grand rounds seminars is also weaker, and is particularly pronounced at the leadership level.…”