Junior doctors and undergraduate teaching: the influence of gender on the provision of medical education.
Prichard, David Collins, Niamh Boohan, Mairead Wall, Catherine
Prichard, David
Collins, Niamh
Boohan, Mairead
Wall, Catherine
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-01T10:50:11Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Data Collection
*Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Ireland
Male
*Medical Staff, Hospital
Sex Factors
*Teaching
*Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Ireland
Male
*Medical Staff, Hospital
Sex Factors
*Teaching
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
BACKGROUND: International experience has demonstrated that the medical profession is becoming less dominated by men. This "feminization of medicine" has been a topic of much debate in the medical literature. As the gender ratio in the profession changes, it is likely that a greater proportion of undergraduate education will be provided by women. Whether this shift away from the male-dominated provision of medical education will have an effect on undergraduate education is unknown. PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to clarify whether there are differences between the attitudes and practices of male and female junior doctors regarding the practice of undergraduate teaching. METHOD: A survey methodology among a cohort of nonconsultant hospital doctors in a major Irish teaching hospital was utilized. The overall response rate was 93%. The cohort held a positive attitude toward teaching undergraduates, and the majority were actively engaged in this activity. Doctors of both genders expressed a willingness to undertake teacher training. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the genders regarding the self-reported quantity of teaching provided to undergraduates. Male doctors perceived themselves as more confident educators when compared to female doctors, but this is likely to reflect cohort demographics in which a greater proportion of male doctors were more senior. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that male and female doctors have similar attitudes toward, and practices in, voluntary undergraduate teaching. As a result, any gender shift in medicine is unlikely to result in a significant change in junior doctors' attitudes toward undergraduate medical education.
Language
eng
ISSN
1532-8015 (Electronic)
1040-1334 (Linking)
1040-1334 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.1080/10401334.2011.561754
PMID
21516603