Abstract
Background
Women in surgery are often told that they are not “tough enough” to be surgeons. A Grit Score provides a validated measure of passion and perseverance, which are aspects of “toughness.”
Methods
Survey data were collected from residents and attendings in all surgical fields through multiple surgical societies. Grit and burnout were measured using validated measures.
Results
Among surgeons, gender did not have an impact on Grit Score. Burnout had a statistically significant inverse relationship with Grit Score, and women were more likely to report burnout compared to men surgeons.
Conclusions
Women in surgery have just as much grit as their male counterparts. Grit should not be a factor in women pursuing a career in surgery.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Angela Duckworth and Paolo Terni for their help with the study design and questionnaire development, as well as with general advice and support throughout the study.
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Betchen, S., Sarode, A., Pories, S. et al. Grit in Surgeons. World J Surg 45, 3033–3040 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06222-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06222-0