Importance of a Diversity Committee in Advancing the Korean Society of Gastroenterology: A Survey Analysis
10.4166/kjg.2019.74.3.149
- Author:
Sung Eun KIM
1
;
Nayoung KIM
;
Young Sook PARK
;
Eun Young KIM
;
Seun Ja PARK
;
Ki Nam SHIM
;
Yoon Jin CHOI
;
Geum Youn GWAK
;
Seon Mee PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Diversity;
Awareness;
Female;
Male;
Surveys and questionnaires
- MeSH:
Emigrants and Immigrants;
Female;
Gastroenterology;
Hand;
Humans;
Male;
Minority Groups;
Specialization;
Students, Medical;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2019;74(3):149-158
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
