LONDON, May 16: A recent study published in the British Journal of Surgery adds to growing evidence indicating that hospitals with higher proportions of female surgical teams may offer safer outcomes for patients undergoing certain procedures. The study, conducted in Canada, examined the relationship between gender diversity among hospital staff and the incidence of serious post-operative complications, including mortality, within the first three months of surgery recovery.

The research, spanning from 2009 to 2019, analyzed 709,899 cases across 88 hospitals where patients underwent major non-emergency inpatient surgeries. Results revealed that hospitals with over 35% female surgeons and anesthetists experienced significantly lower rates of major post-operative complications and mortality within the 90-day recovery period compared to those with fewer women in these roles.

Although the median percentage of female surgeons and anesthetists in hospitals fell short of the optimal threshold at 28%, the study emphasized the importance of having diverse surgical teams for patient outcomes. Notably, patients who were treated directly by a woman surgeon or anesthetist showed improved outcomes, highlighting the significance of gender diversity in healthcare settings.

These findings align with previous research, including a study published in JAMA Surgery last year, which found that patients treated by female surgeons had lower risks of mortality, hospital readmission, and major complications following surgery. Similar trends were observed across various patient demographics, surgical procedures, and hospital settings.

Researchers have long sought to understand the factors contributing to these disparities. Previous studies, such as one conducted by Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that patients treated by female physicians had lower mortality rates and reduced hospital readmissions. Dr. Ashish Jha, now Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, emphasized the need for further investigation into the practices of female physicians to uncover the reasons behind these observed differences in patient outcomes.

As research continues to explore the impact of gender diversity on healthcare outcomes, the findings underscore the importance of fostering diverse healthcare teams to enhance patient care and optimize treatment outcomes.