The domino effect: the impact of gender on operative self-efficacy

Background Studies suggest that there are key differences in operative experience based on a trainee’s gender. A large-scale self-efficacy (SE) survey, distributed to general surgery residents after the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination in 2020, found that female gender was associated with decreased SE in graduating PGY5 residents for all 4 laparoscopic procedures included on the survey (cholecystectomy, appendectomy, right hemicolectomy, and diagnostic laparoscopy). We sought to determine whether these differences were reflected at the case level when considering operative performance and supervision using an operative assessment tool (SIMPL OR). Methods Supervision and performance data reported through the SIMPL OR platform for the same 4 laparoscopic procedures included in the SE survey were aggregated for residents who were PGY5s in 2020. Independent t -tests and multiple linear regression were used to determine the relationship between trainee gender and supervision/performance ratings. Results For laparoscopic cases in aggregate ( n = 2708), male residents rated their performance higher than females (3.57 vs. 3.26, p