Female Representation in Clinical Practice Guideline Panels in 2 Major Cancer Organizations

Madhuri Chengappa, Ronald S. Go, Ariela Marshall, Thejaswi K. Poonacha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While female representation in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) has been studied to a limited degree, the change in gender disparity over a decade, among all NCCN and ESMO CPG panelists has not been studied. Our study evaluated gender disparities for all NCCN and ESMO CPG panels (CPGPs) as of 2020 in comparison with 2010. METHODS: The 2010 and 2020 NCCN and ESMO CPGPs were examined, utilizing their websites and archives. We catalogued the number of females vs male panelists for each CPG by reviewing their names, Google search results, and panelists' picture on affiliated websites. We defined greater than 50% representation of either sex in a CPG as "predominant" representation. RESULTS: Sixty NCCN/2020, 51 NCCN/2010, 78 ESMO/2020, and 55 ESMO/2010 CPGPs were reviewed. NCCN 2010 CPGPs had 27.1% female representation. CPGPs for solid tumors and hematological malignancies were male predominant. CPGPs for breast cancer screening, palliative care, and older adult oncology were female predominant. ESMO 2010 CPGPs had 23.2% female representation. Solid tumors (35 CPGPs) and hematological malignancies (9 CPGPs) were male predominant. CPGPs for cancers specific to women were female predominant. NCCN 2020 CPGPs had 55.5% female representation. For solid tumors, 24 CPGPs had male predominance, and hematological malignancies, with 14 CPGPs, had female predominance. CPGPs for cancers specific to women had more female panelists. ESMO 2020 CPGPs had 27.8% female representation. CPGPs for solid tumors (37 panels) and hematological malignancies (17 panels) were male predominant. Breast and ovarian cancer CPGPs were female predominant. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past decade, female representation in NCCN CPGs has doubled, with more than 50% representation among its 60 CPGPs in 2020. In ESMO, although there has been an increase in women participating in CPGPs for hematological malignancies, overall female representation remains low (<30%). Progression toward gender equity is important for improving outcomes in science and medicine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)59-63
Number of pages5
JournalONCOLOGY (United States)
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 UBM Medica Healthcare Publications. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Clinical practice guidelines
  • Female representation
  • Oncology leadership
  • Women in oncology

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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