Assessing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Patient-Facing Websites in Neurosurgical Departments in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Patient-facing websites serve as essential platforms for disseminating information, engaging with patients, and increasing access to neurosurgical resources and services. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the forefront of issues facing the field of neurosurgery, especially concerning race and gender disparities in regards to providers in the field. METHODS: Data were collected in regards to the race and gender of patients and providers displayed on the neurosurgery department's patient-facing website in addition to accommodations for disabilities, decreased ability to pay, and language. RESULTS: Patients who were White were depicted more commonly than those of color (69% vs. 31%, P < 0.00001). White patients also were over-represented when compared with the average demographics of the communities in which the hospitals served (P = 0.03846). Neurosurgical providers who were White outnumbered those of color (70% vs. 30%, P < 0.00001). The racial depiction of providers was comparable with racial disparities currently observed in neurosurgery (P = 0.59612). Female neurosurgery providers were seen less than male providers on patient-facing websites (P < 0.00001) but were seen more commonly on patient-facing websites than the percentage of practicing neurosurgeons they currently comprise (28% vs. 8%, P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that patient-facing websites of neurosurgical departments are an area of improvement in regards to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the field of neurosurgery. Disparities are noted in regards to the racial depiction of patients and further call to attention racial and gender disparities in the field of neurosurgery.

Realistic Assessment of Research Publications by Neurosurgery Residency Applicants.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgical residency applicants' prior research experience can amplify their ability to stand out to prospective neurosurgery programs. We attempted to accurately quantify the number of research publications coauthored by applicants by analyzing the publications of applicants who matched into neurosurgery in the 2021 Match. METHODS: Scopus, a peer-reviewed literature database, was queried for publications by applicants who matched into neurosurgery in the 2021 Match before the finalization of rank lists. Conference papers, abstracts, and book chapters were excluded to determine an accurate average of actual publications. Descriptive statistics for resident publication data were used, with a Mann-Whitney U test used to compare research productivity between male and female residents. RESULTS: There were 234 positions filled by the 2021 Match, and 233 neurosurgical residents were identifiable in this study. A total of 187 residents matching from U.S. Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine programs were identified with 946 total publications-an average of 5.1 publications per resident. Analysis of descriptive statistics revealed type of research conducted, authorship information, most published journals, and citation data. Significant differences were found in the number of publications between male and female applicants with averages of 5.6 and 3.8 publications, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Students matriculating to neurosurgery residency programs display a wide range of research productivity. Typical U.S. Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine applicants have coauthored a mean of 5.1 and a median of 4.0 publications. This information may assist program directors in weighing applicants' research background and give medical students interested in the field reasonable research expectations.