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Elfaki LA, Nwakoby A, Keshishi M, Vervoort D, Yanagawa B, Fremes SE. Race and Ethnicity in Cardiac Surgery: A Missed Opportunity? Ann Thorac Surg 2024; 117:714-722. [PMID: 37914147 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients' race and/or ethnicity are increasingly being associated with differential surgical access and outcomes in cardiac surgery. However, deriving evidence-based conclusions that can inform surgical care has been difficult because of poor diversity in study populations and conflicting research methodology and findings. Using a fictional patient example, this review identifies areas of concern in research engagement, methodology, and analyses, as well as potential steps to improve race and ethnicity considerations in cardiac surgical research. METHODS A narrative literature review was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases, with a combination of cardiac surgery, race, ethnicity, and disparities keywords. RESULTS Less than half of the published cardiac surgery randomized control trials report the race and/or ethnicity of research participants. Racial and/or ethnic minorities make up <20% of most study populations and are significantly underrepresented relative to their proportions of the general population. Further, race and/or ethnicity of research participants is variably categorized based on ancestry, geographic regions, cultural similarities, or minority status. There is growing consideration of analyzing interrelated and confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, or hospital quality, to better elucidate racial and/or ethnic disparities; however, intersectionality considerations remain limited in cardiac surgery research. CONCLUSIONS Racial and/or ethnic disparities are increasingly being reported in research engagement, cardiac pathologies, and surgical outcomes. To promote equitable surgical care, tangible efforts are needed to recruit racially and/or ethnically minoritized patients to research studies, be transparent and consistent in their groupings, and elucidate the impact of their intersectional social identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina A Elfaki
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akachukwu Nwakoby
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Keshishi
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dominique Vervoort
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiac Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bobby Yanagawa
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen E Fremes
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiac Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Vervoort D, Elfaki LA, Servito M, Herrera-Morales KY, Kanyepi K. Redefining global cardiac surgery through an intersectionality lens. Med Humanit 2024; 50:109-115. [PMID: 38388185 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2023-012801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Although cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, six billion people lack access to safe, timely and affordable cardiac surgical care when needed. The burden of cardiovascular disease and disparities in access to care vary widely based on sociodemographic characteristics, including but not limited to geography, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, socioeconomic status and age. To date, the majority of cardiovascular, global health and global surgical research has lacked intersectionality lenses and methodologies to better understand access to care at the intersection of multiple identities and traditions. As such, global (cardiac) surgical definitions and health system interventions have been rooted in reductionism, focusing, at most, on singular sociodemographic characteristics. In this article, we evaluate barriers in global access to cardiac surgery based on existing intersectionality themes and literature. We further examine intersectionality methodologies to study access to cardiovascular care and cardiac surgery and seek to redefine the definition of 'global cardiac surgery' through an intersectionality lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Vervoort
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lina A Elfaki
- University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Elfaki LA, Groenewoud R, Nwakoby A, Zubair A, Verma R, Yanagawa B. 2023 Update on equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canadian cardiac surgery. Curr Opin Cardiol 2024; 39:68-71. [PMID: 37934715 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0000000000001101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite efforts to diversify the medical field, cardiac surgery remains amongst the least diverse specialties. Specifically, the percentage of women and racial minorities has remained low in past few decades. This may impact prospective trainee recruitment and surgical care. This paper highlights recent efforts that aim to promote diversity and inclusion of the Canadian cardiac surgical workforce. RECENT FINDINGS Formal programs have been established to support students at different stages of training. In 2022, the Canadian Society for Cardiac Surgery has released an equity, diversity, and inclusion statement to summarize the current state and the strategic goals to accomplish a more just working environment. At the local level, the University of Toronto Next Surgeon high school pilot program, provided low-income, women, and racial minority students mentorship and experiential exposure to our field. Also, the University of Toronto, scholarships funded summer research with cardiac surgeons for women, as well as Black and Indigenous medical students. SUMMARY Tangible efforts that target high school, undergraduate, and medical students are underway to promote equity and diversity of cardiac surgeons in Canada. Future studies that evaluate the gaps and identify bottlenecks could better guide interventions at institutions across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina A Elfaki
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Rosalind Groenewoud
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Akachukwu Nwakoby
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Areeba Zubair
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Raj Verma
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bobby Yanagawa
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Stoklosa K, Elfaki LA, Ding C, Sachal SS, Escuadro RJG, Tu K. Vaccine-incentivized blood donation: A survey of public perceptions in Canada. Vox Sang 2023; 118:624-636. [PMID: 37381906 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Canadian blood donations declined during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, vaccine demand outpaced supply during the initial stages of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Canada. This study investigates public perceptions regarding vaccine-incentivized blood donation, among COVID-19 and future pandemics, in Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 19-question survey was developed and distributed in person and online to Canadians during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were asked questions about demographics, blood donation eligibility, previous donations and sentiments towards vaccine-incentivized blood donation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS In total, 787 respondents completed the survey with representation from all sexes, ages, races, locations of residence and work employment. Overall, 176 (22%) participants self-identified as working or living in healthcare settings, 511 (65%) were currently able to donate blood products, 247 (31%) previously donated blood and 48 (6%) donated blood during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the exception of ineligible blood donors, many Canadians, particularly previous blood donors, were agreeable with this incentivization proposal. Many participants claimed they would donate blood products for vaccines during COVID-19 and future pandemics but raised concerns about the equitableness of such approach. CONCLUSION Vaccine-incentivized blood donation was viewed positively by many Canadians in our study. Future research must investigate the equity and feasibility of this strategy. In the interim, further strategies should be explored to encourage blood donation in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudiusz Stoklosa
- Division of Rural Family Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lina A Elfaki
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina Ding
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sukhmeet S Sachal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Karen Tu
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto-Dalla Lana School of Public Health, North York General Hospital, Toronto Western Family Health Team-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Elfaki LA, Keshishi M, Nwakoby A, Vervoort D. From Singularity to Plurality: The Case for Intersectionality in Cardiothoracic Surgery Research. JTCVS Open 2022; 13:52-53. [PMID: 37063140 PMCID: PMC10091299 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Elfaki LA, Luc JG, Antonoff MB, Cooke DT, Arora RC, Stamp N, Varghese TK, Ouzounian M. Sex differences in authorship in cardiothoracic surgery during the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. JTCVS Open 2022; 11:265-271. [PMID: 35664693 PMCID: PMC9150085 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted cardiothoracic (CT) surgery, with changes in clinical, academic, and personal responsibilities. We hypothesized that the pandemic may disproportionately impact female academic CT surgeons, accentuating preexisting sex disparities. This study assessed sex differences in authorship of 2 major CT surgery journals during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods All accepted submissions to The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery between April and August of 2019 and the same period in 2020 were reviewed. Article type and author characteristics were obtained from the journals. Author sex was predicted using a validated multinational database (Genderize.io) and verified with authors' institutional and public professional profiles. Results In total, 1106 submissions were accepted during the 2019 period, whereas 900 articles (18.6% decrease) were accepted during the same period in 2020. Original research articles comprised 33.3% of the 2019 articles but only 4.9% of the 2020 articles. Female authors contributed to 39.3% (23.1% original research and 16.2% nonoriginal articles) and 29.4% (3.3% original research and 26.1% nonoriginal articles) of articles during the 2019 and 2020 periods, respectively. This represents a marked change in the type of articles that female authors contributed to. Conclusions Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the type of articles accepted, and authorship demographic changed. There was a decrease in contribution of female-authored CT surgery articles submitted to both journals, especially for original research. Future research will elucidate the long-term impact of the pandemic on sex disparities in academic productivity. Video Abstract
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