Perspectives on Gender Impact on Research in Academic Emergency Medicine in Canada: A Mixed-Methods Study

Gender bias continues to impact clinical and academic careers, and SAEM is committed to advancing gender equity in emergency medicine (EM). However, data on the influence of gender on career trajectories of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians remain limited. This study aimed to identify gender influences on research productivity and leadership among PEM physicians.

We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study consisting of a cross-sectional survey followed by qualitative interviews. A 25-item survey was administered to 113 physician members of the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) network and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to provide context and further explain survey findings. Interviews were transcribed, blinded, and iteratively coded by three independent raters.

The survey response rate was 73%, yielding 78 complete surveys, including 46 women or gender-diverse participants (59%) and 32 men (41%), with a mean of 16.5 years in research. 58% of participants strongly agreed that gender inequity exists in PEM research, with women and gender diverse participants significantly more likely to agree than men (OR: 8.56; 95% CI: 2.92–25.04). All genders identified that multiple factors can impact research productivity, including age and parental leave. We conducted 1 focus group (n=5) and 3 interviews with women. Findings affirmed the survey results. Two major gendered challenges for PERC women emerged: (1) opportunity imbalance, such as barriers to accessing resources, and (2) imbalance in family and professional responsibilities grounded in differing societal expectations for women. These challenges were recognized by all genders. Participants proposed three equity-focused solutions: 1) increase institutional transparency in allocation of resources and leadership application procedures, 2) ensure diverse mentoring and leadership opportunities, and 3) revise evaluation standards to create equity-oriented approaches to research productivity & recognition.

This study identified barriers to gender equity in PERC and proposes several solutions, with shared motivation across genders to advance change. If implemented, the recommendations presented may create a more equitable environment in PERC and advance SAEM’s commitment to closing the gender gap.