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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Revista Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatología 2022; 63(03): e145-e149
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748930
Artículo Original | Original Article

Personal Satisfaction and Perception of Success among Female Orthopedic Surgeons: Key Factors in the Choice of Specialty and Professional Development

Article in several languages: español | English
Constanza Ramírez 
1   Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Clínica MEDS La Dehesa, Santiago, Chile
,
Magaly Iñiguez 
2   Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
,
Rafaella Reginato 
3   Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Mutual de Seguridad CChC, Clínica Avansalud, Santiago, Chile
,
Angélica Ibáñez 
4   Departamento de Traumatología y Ortopedia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
,
Ximena Ahumada 
5   Servicio de Traumatología, Hospital Padre Hurtado, Santiago, Chile
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Abstract

Historically, female doctors have been associated with certain specialties. In recent years, these stereotypes have been slowly reversed with an increased participation of women in surgical specialties. The importance of models and mentors in the learning process is known. We seek to evaluate the level of professional satisfaction and success of women in Traumatology, as well as the factors that may have played a positive role in the decision to pursue this specialty.

We surveyed 108 women working in Traumatology and evaluated the positive influences and mentors as models in the decision-making regarding the specialty and the degrees of personal and professional satisfaction.

Despite a greater perception of difficulties in achieving the purpose, the high degrees of professional and personal satisfaction of women in Traumatology stands out: 95% reported having chosen the correct specialty, 100% stated that the difficulties are offset by the results obtained, and 96% would choose the same specialty again. Regarding the perception of success, 73% consider themselves successful in their occupation, and 85% consider themselves successful in their personal lives.

The role played by teachers, mentors, as well as an interest in surgery and sports are very relevant in choosing the specialty. In total, 84% of the sample received some positive influence 61% had a female traumatologist as a model during their training, and 98% would recommend other women in training to dedicate themselves to Traumatology.

The strategies to increase female participation in the specialty could be aimed at promoting female role models during learning.

Keywords

gender - orthopedics - women


Publication History

Received: 05 September 2021

Accepted: 15 March 2022

Article published online:
28 December 2022

© 2022. Sociedad Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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