Abstract Aims Leadership roles bring many career benefits to surgeons including reducing risk of burn-out, financial rewards and career progression. However, concerns exist on disparities in obtaining leadership positions by minoritised surgeons. We aimed to examine the attitudes and perceived barriers to leadership amongst General Surgeons. Methods An online voluntary survey was distributed to surgeons of all career grades via different digital media. Questions included demographics, perceived barriers which participants were asked to score on a Likert scale of 0 to 10. Results Interim analysis showed 64 respondents (28.2% senior surgeons, 71.8% residents) . 37% identified as White, 53% female, 26.6% graduated outside the UK. 4.4% held no leadership role of which 11% were white and 36% were female. Ethnic minorities (EM) scored private life and day-to-day work pressures lower as barriers (6.7 out of 10 vs 7.3 and 6.57 vs 7 respectively). They scored higher on culture, ethnicity and gender as barriers (4.06 vs 1.54, 2.96 vs 1.54 and 3.3 vs 2.2). EM found leadership more important (7.15 vs 5,45 but felt less supported/mentored (5.73 vs 6.33). Women scored day-to-day and private pressures higher (7.18 vs 6.16 and 7.38 vs 6.4) and felt less supported (5.69 vs 6.4.) EM and female surgeons were more likely to feel they had the skills and characteristics to be successful in leadership. Discussion These findings suggest minoritised surgeons hold positive views to leadership and their capabilities. They however appear less supported and experience barriers differently. This may inform specific mechanisms for interventions and support.
Jama et al. (Fri,) studied this question.