Has COVID-19 had a greater impact on female than male oncologists? Results of the ESMO Women for Oncology (W4O) Survey

Abstract

Background: European Society for Medical Oncology Women for Oncology (ESMO W4O) research has previously shown under-representation of female oncologists in leadership roles. As early reports suggested disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, the ESMO W4O Committee initiated a study on the impact of the pandemic on the lives of female and male oncologists. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to ESMO members and put on the ESMO website between 8 June 2020 and 2 July 2020. Questions focused on the working (hospital tasks, laboratory tasks, science) and home (household management, childcare, parent care, personal care) lives of oncologists during and after COVID-19-related lockdowns. Results: Of 649 respondents, 541 completed the questionnaire. Of these, 58% reported that COVID-19 had affected their professional career, 83% of whom said this was in a negative way (85% of women versus 76% of men). Approximately 86% reported that COVID-19 had changed their personal life and 82% their family life. Women were again significantly more affected than men: personal life (89% versus 78%; P ¼ 0.001); family life (84% versus 77%; P ¼ 0.037). During lockdowns, women reported increased time spent on hospital and laboratory tasks compared with men (53% versus 46% and 33% versus 26%, respectively) and a significantly higher proportion of women than men spent less time on science (39% versus 25%) and personal care (58% versus 39%). After confinement, this trend remained for science (42% versus 23%) and personal care (55% versus 36%). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the professional and home lives of oncologists, especially women. Reduced research time for female oncologists may have long-lasting career consequences, especially for those at key stages in their career. The gender gap for promotion to leadership positions may widen further as a result of the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on oncology professionals—one year on: lessons learned from the ESMO Resilience Task Force survey series

“…There is evidence that the pandemic has had an unequal impact on gender with female clinicians shouldering the greater burden of domestic responsibilities which may be exacerbating the pressure of growing professional demands. 14 , 15 In Survey II, we previously highlighted concerns raised regarding career development, training and job security disproportionately impacting trainee and early-career oncologists. 5 Survey III broadens these concerns to that of a more widespread impending crisis in workforce retention.…”

Gender imbalance in gynecologic oncology authorship and impact of COVID-19 pandemic

“…There has been growing concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated these inequalities and widened the gender publishing gap, as women may have disproportionately shouldered the coexisting pandemic burdens of increased domestic responsibilities including educating children during school closures and providing care for young and elderly dependents,16–19 and the academic demands of adopting virtual clinical platforms, committee work, and teaching 19 20. The early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains to be investigated on publications and authorship in gynecologic oncology.…”

Oncology Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For example, one study that looked at the impact of the pandemic on male and female oncologists found that in a sample of 541 oncologists, females were much more likely to report that the pandemic affected their professional career in a negative way (85%) when compared to males being asked the same question (76%). Women also reported that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their personal life (89% vs. 78% of men) and family life (84% vs. 77% of men) in negative ways and that they spent less time on science (39% vs. 25% of men) [ 60 ]. In order to design the best interventions and to truly address the components of mental health among oncology HCPs, gender will have to be taken into account.…”

“…One longitudinal survey of 1269 oncologists from 104 countries found that almost half of the respondents (45%) reported not having enough time for their families as a result of the pandemic and that this phenomenon had increased substantially from the first time data were collected from this sample early in the pandemic (34.6%) [ 59 ]. Another study that looked at the impact of the pandemic on male and female oncologists found that in a sample of 541 oncologists, females reported that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their personal life (89% vs. 78% of men) and family life (84% vs. 77% of men) in negative ways [ 60 ]. Similarly, a study of Indian physicians that included surgical and medical oncologists found that female HCPs had increased domestic responsibilities such as household chores and were more likely to be responsible for managing their child’s education when compared to their male colleagues.…”