Upcoming female preponderance within surgery residents and the association of sex with the surgical career choice in the new millennium: results from a national survey in France

Abstract: Background: Women are increasingly entering the medical studies. We aim to investigate surgical residents'' career decision making among surgical residents and to assess the presence of women. Methods: An “electronic questionnaire” of self-assessment was distributed to the 2,500 current French surgical residents. Items analyzed included population characteristics, demographics, educational experiences, and choice of career. Results: There was a response rate of 31.2% (n = 779). The male/female ratio was 1.1 with 370 women (47.5%). The mean age was 28 ± 2 years. All surgical specialties were represented. Sex was significantly associated with the choice of surgical specialty (P < .05). Female residents had a shorter working time per week than male residents (P < .001). Sex was significantly linked with future career plans as female residents expected to work in a public hospital (P = .005) and as male residents expected to work in private practice (P = .001). Conclusions: Female surgical residents are more populous than ever among surgical residents. Sex appears to be linked with where and how the residents expect to work in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]