Korean J Gastroenterol.  2019 Sep;74(3):149-158. 10.4166/kjg.2019.74.3.149.

Importance of a Diversity Committee in Advancing the Korean Society of Gastroenterology: A Survey Analysis

• Kim SE
• Kim N
• Park YS
• Kim EY
• Park SJ
• Shim KN
• Choi YJ
• Gwak GY
• Park SM

• KMID: 2458695
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2019.74.3.149

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The numbers of women, young doctors, and foreigners in the medical field have increased continuously. On the other hand, the environment for these minority groups has not improved, particularly in Eastern countries. The authors aimed to increase the awareness of the importance of a Diversity Committee in the Korean Society of Gastroenterology (KSG) by an analysis of a survey.
METHODS
From January to February in 2019, a survey was conducted on physicians and a few medical students by googling. The questionnaire consisted of the target doctors of the Diversity Committee, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of Diversity Committee to the KSG. The participants requested to respond with yes/no or a 5-point scale.
RESULTS
A total of 202 participants completed the questionnaire, and 93.5% (189/202) were medical specialists. The proportion of males was 61.9% (125/202), and 39.6% (80/202) and 36.1% (73/202) participants were in their 30s and 40s, respectively. A total of 174 participants (86.1%) agreed with the necessity of a Diversity Committee, and 180 participants (89.1%) answered this committee would help advance the KSG with significant differences between males and females (80.8% vs. 94.8%, p=0.006; 84.8% vs. 96.1%, p=0.011). Similarly, there were significant differences in the responses according to sex in most questions.
CONCLUSIONS
Most participants of the survey expected a contribution of the Diversity Committee to the advancement of the KSG. On the other hand, in most of the priorities of the target, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of the Diversity Committee, there was a difference in the perceptions between males and females. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to reduce the differences within the KSG.

Keyword

Diversity; Awareness; Female; Male; Surveys and questionnaires

MeSH Terms

Emigrants and Immigrants
Female
Gastroenterology*
Hand
Humans
Male
Minority Groups
Specialization
Students, Medical
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Survey responders about the target of a diversity committee compared to the sex differences. (A) Female. (B) Age <40 years. (C) Disabled. (D) Foreigner. The variables were compared using the linear-by-linear association test and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

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  Fig. 2 Survey responders on the purpose of the diversity committee compared to the sex differences. (A) Female leadership advancement. (B) Minority group leadership advancement (age <40 years, foreigner, disabled). (C) Research on gender-specific medicine or diversity. (D) Education and public relations on gender-specific medicine or diversity. (E) Exchanges with diversity committees of other academic institutions. The variables were compared using the linear-by-linear association test and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

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  Fig. 3 Personal and organizational factors can contribute to the success of new faculty. Adapted from Mehta and Forde14, with permission from Gastroenterology.

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