Gender-biased Perceptions in Self-Efficacy are Mitigated by a Training Module in Radiation Oncology: GlimPSE TMRO

Summary: Women physicians are underrepresented in highly technical specialties that emphasize math and physics, such as radiation oncology. Decreased self-efficacy among women in these fields may contribute to this disparity. This study aimed to assess whether self-efficacy influences specialty selection, whether gender-based disparities in self-efficacy exist among medical students and radiation oncology residents, and whether experiential training modules can improve self-efficacy. Two training modules were designed (https://contourtmro.github.io/)—one to introduce medical students to radiation oncology in an interactive, case-based format with a contouring exercise, and the other to review gynecologic brachytherapy with radiation oncology residents. Medical students and radiation oncology residents completed training modules with pre- and post-training self-efficacy assessment in specific tasks. Self-efficacy scores were analyzed for gender disparities and impact of the training module. Self-efficacy in medical students was also assessed through semi-structured interviews that were coded and categorized for thematic content analysis. Twenty-nine medical students and fourteen radiation oncology residents completed the study. Ten medical students were interviewed. Interview data showed that both genders acknowledged challenges in medicine including burnout and imposter syndrome, but women seemed to internalize these into peer comparison and self-doubt. Pre-training self-efficacy scores in both medical students and residents did not show significant differences based on gender, age group, or training level. However, in both cohorts, pre-training self-efficacy scores for men were numerically higher than those for women in every single task. After completing the training module, self-efficacy scores significantly improved in both medical students (p< 0.001) and residents (p=0.018). Self-efficacy influences specialty selection, gender-based disparities in self-efficacy related to radiation oncology exist, and these can be mitigated through experiential training modules specific to radiation oncology. These findings may be applied to radiation oncology and other technical medical specialties to improve recruitment of a diverse workforce. Ria Mulherkar (she/her/hers), n/a (Presenting Author) - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; Hima Bindu Musunuru, MD (Co-Author) - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; John Austin Vargo, MD, MBA (Co-Author) - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; Susannah Ellsworth, MD (Co-Author) - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center