Analysis of gender representation on transfusion medicine journal editorial boards: Comparison between 2019 and 2022.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A 2019 study highlighted significant gender inequities among blood banking and transfusion medicine (BBTM) journal editorial boards. We sought to assess if the representation of women has improved in the intervening 3 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the gender composition of nine BBTM journal editorial boards as of 13 September 2022, including the seven journals studied in 2019. We compared this to the proportion of females (term used by authors) on seven BBTM journal editorial boards in 2019 to assess change in the editorial board composition. We also assessed gender composition by editorial position (editor-in-chief [EIC], associate/assistant/titled editors and editorial board members). RESULTS: Nine BBTM journals have a total of 398 editorial positions and comprise significantly more men than women (68.8%, 274/398 vs. 31.2%, 124/398; p < 0.001). Among the seven journals analysed in 2019, the proportion of women on these seven editorial boards has remained unchanged (2019: 30.1%, 81/269 vs. 2022: 31.9%, 103/323; p = 0.66) despite the addition of 54 editorial positions. CONCLUSION: Women remain inequitably represented on journal editorial boards among all journal editorial positions. Although advocacy efforts are increasing, there has been limited improvement in gender equity in 3 years, despite a 20% increase in editorial positions.

Representation of Authors by Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Pathology Clinical Practice Guidelines.

CONTEXT.­: United States' clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are often produced by professional societies and used worldwide in daily medical practice. However, studies in various medical specialties demonstrate underrepresentation of women and racial and ethnic minority groups in CPGs. The representation of authors by gender, race, and ethnicity of US pathology CPGs has not been previously evaluated. OBJECTIVE.­: To assess if women and individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented as authors of pathology CPGs. DESIGN.­: The gender, race, ethnicity, and terminal degrees of authors of 18 CPGs from the College of American Pathologists were coded by using photographs and other available information online and compared to their representation in academic pathology per Association of American Medical Colleges benchmark data. RESULTS.­: Two hundred seventy-five author positions (202 physician author positions) were analyzed. Women overall (119 of 275; 43.3%) and women physicians (65 of 202; 32.2%) held fewer positions than all men and men physicians. Women physicians were significantly underrepresented in physician author positions, while White men physicians were significantly overrepresented in all, first, senior, and corresponding authorship roles when compared to the proportion of women and White men physicians among pathology faculty, respectively. Asian men and women physicians were underrepresented as compared to their representation among pathology faculty. CONCLUSIONS.­: Men, particularly White men physicians, are overrepresented among pathology CPG author positions, while women physicians and some physicians from racial and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented. Further research is needed to understand the impact of these findings on the careers of underrepresented physicians and the content of guidelines.