Perceptions of cardiology, professional preferences and impact on career choices among Portuguese cardiologists: Results from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology's Women and Cardiology Task Force survey

Cardiology has not been seen as an attractive specialty, and women have avoided it for many years. Some surveys have been performed in other countries, but in Portugal, the situation is largely unknown. An online survey on perceptions of cardiology and professional preferences was sent to 1371 members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, of whom 18.2% completed the survey. We included 219 cardiologists or cardiology trainees, of whom 50.2% were female, with decreasing proportions from younger to older age groups, in which males still predominate. Women are less often married and more frequently childless, particularly those working in an invasive subspecialty, where they represent only 16% of all respondents working in these areas. Men's perception is that women do not choose these areas due to family reasons, radiation concerns and difficult working conditions, but from the female perspective, male dominance, lack of female role models and restricted access are the main barriers. Women consider it is difficult for them to obtain a leadership role, but men do not think the same (75.5% vs. 27.5%). In Portugal, females predominate in younger age groups, suggesting a paradigm change. Women are less frequently married and more frequently childless, particularly women working in invasive subspecialties. Women consider that it is more difficult for them to obtain a leadership role. Moreover, the barriers reported by women are substantially different from men regarding the reasons for not choosing an invasive subspecialty. A cardiologia não tem sido uma especialidade atrativa, que as mulheres têm habitualmente evitado. Alguns questionários foram realizados na Europa, mas em Portugal esta realidade é desconhecida. Foi enviado um questionário online sobre a perceção da cardiologia e preferências profissionais a 1371 membros da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia, tendo 18,2% respondido. Incluíram-se no estudo 219 cardiologistas/internos de cardiologia, 50,2% mulheres, com aumentos progressivos da proporção de mulheres dos grupos etários mais jovens para os mais idosos, onde os homens ainda predominam. As mulheres são mais frequentemente solteiras e sem filhos, particularmente se trabalharem em áreas invasivas, onde elas representam apenas 16% dos respondedores que trabalham nessas áreas. A perceção masculina é de que as mulheres não escolhem as áreas invasivas por motivos familiares, preocupações com radiação e condições de trabalho difíceis. Contudo, a perspet