A new study published in The Spine Journal examines the rate of female authors on articles published in spine journals.
The study authors examined research articles in spine-related journals published between 1978 and 2016. There were 24,334 articles with 120,723 authors identified by first name. The researchers found 100,286 authors were matched to a gender.
Here are five key findings:
1. The rate of female authors who were first authors climbed from 6.5 percent from 1978 to 1994 to 18.5 percent from 2010 to 2016.
2. The rate of female senior authors grew from 4.7 percent between 1978 and 1994 to 13.6 percent between 2010 and 2016.
3. Since 2000, growth rate in female senior authorship has declined:
• 2000 to 2004: 12.3 percent
• 2005 to 2009: 12.9 percent
• 2010 to 2016: 13.5 percent
4. Female authors on average published fewer articles than male authors; female authors published an average of 2.1 articles, compared to 3.3 articles for male authors.
5. After publishing their first article, 15.3 percent of female authors continued to publish, compared to 24.8 percent of male authors.