PMID- 37913532
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20231103
LR  - 20231107
IS  - 1092-0684 (Electronic)
IS  - 1092-0684 (Linking)
VI  - 55
IP  - 5
DP  - 2023 Nov
TI  - Assessing the state of LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion in neurosurgery.
PG  - E10
LID - 10.3171/2023.8.FOCUS23285 [doi]
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the diversity of neurosurgeons in 
      terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) gender and 
      sexual minority status using the Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) as the single 
      nationalized source of LGBTQ+ identification. Additionally, inclusivity was 
      assessed through interviews by residents and attendings in the field. METHODS: 
      First, a PRISMA literature review was conducted and independently reviewed by two 
      authors on studies involving LGBTQ+ representation in neurosurgery from PubMed, 
      Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Then, aggregate responses of 16,901 
      participants' sexual and gender identities from the GQ administered between 2016 
      and 2022 were compiled. To statistically analyze the response frequencies, the 
      authors performed a chi-square analysis. Finally, interviews were conducted with 
      individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and are currently neurosurgical residents or 
      attendings. Direct invitations were extended to participate in interviews, and 
      all participants gave informed consent prior to the interview. Interviews were 
      conducted using standardized questions and were video recorded. RESULTS: Two 
      studies were identified by literature review that referenced the LGBTQ+ community 
      in neurosurgery. A GQ chi-square analysis comparing neurosurgical with 
      nonneurosurgical LGBTQ+ identification proved statistically insignificant (p = 
      0.65). More broad analysis of majority sexual and gender identification 
      (heterosexual and cisgendered) compared with the total gender and sexual minority 
      group also proved statistically insignificant (p = 0.32) in response frequency. 
      Five interviews, including 4 residents and 1 attending, provided several 
      overarching themes including self-identification as an invisible minority, 
      self-limiting behavior to ensure inclusion, and LGBTQ+ status as a direct 
      departure from the stereotypical neurosurgeon. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the GQ 
      analysis indicate that neurosurgery is achieving LGBTQ+ diversity of its incoming 
      members comparable to that of other fields in medicine. However, qualitative data 
      from the interviews and a lack of specific literature indicate that despite 
      obtaining diversity, inclusion of LGBTQ+ neurosurgeons and trainees is lacking.
FAU - Foresi, Brian D
AU  - Foresi BD
AD  - 1Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio.
FAU - Pellot, Karolina
AU  - Pellot K
AD  - 2Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
FAU - Quadri, Saif S
AU  - Quadri SS
AD  - 3Kansas City University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri.
FAU - Muzyka, Logan
AU  - Muzyka L
AD  - 4Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas.
FAU - White, Sarah
AU  - White S
AD  - 5Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, North Carolina; 
      and.
FAU - Uzoukwu, Cynthia
AU  - Uzoukwu C
AD  - 1Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio.
FAU - Pannullo, Susan C
AU  - Pannullo SC
AD  - 6Department of Neurological Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell 
      Medicine, New York, New York.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - United States
TA  - Neurosurg Focus
JT  - Neurosurgical focus
JID - 100896471
SB  - IM
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - *Neurosurgery
MH  - Sexual Behavior
MH  - Gender Identity
MH  - *Sexual and Gender Minorities
MH  - Cultural Diversity
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - LGBTQ+
OT  - diversity
OT  - gender
OT  - inclusion
OT  - minority
OT  - neurosurgery
EDAT- 2023/11/01 18:43
MHDA- 2023/11/03 06:44
CRDT- 2023/11/01 17:53
PHST- 2023/04/28 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2023/08/24 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2023/11/03 06:44 [medline]
PHST- 2023/11/01 18:43 [pubmed]
PHST- 2023/11/01 17:53 [entrez]
AID - 10.3171/2023.8.FOCUS23285 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Neurosurg Focus. 2023 Nov;55(5):E10. doi: 10.3171/2023.8.FOCUS23285.