Aim

To evaluate the temporal growth pattern of female radiation/clinical oncologists (FRCOs) and, if applicable, predict the gender neutrality in different countries of South Asia.

Materials and methods

South Asia is composed of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The growth pattern of FRCOs in the latter five countries having radiation oncology facilities was evaluated from respective national registration data. Based on the average annual differential growth rate, together with the already existing female and male radiation/clinical oncologists (MRCOs), the cumulative numbers of FRCOs and MRCOs were forecasted for the next 10 years. The data regarding FRCOs in a leadership position were also calculated from different sources.

Results

The total number of radiation/clinical oncologists in the region was 4074, of which 91.8% were in India, because of its vast population. The overall number of FRCOs and MRCOs stood at 1370 and 2704, with a 1:2 female:male ratio. The average incremental annual growth of FRCOs in India was the highest (12.7 persons/year) and Nepal was the lowest (0.4 persons/year), with no data from Pakistan. If the current growth rate is sustained, Indian gender neutrality will be achieved by 2027–2030. In other countries, gender neutrality is unlikely to be achieved in the near future. With regards to leadership positions, 56–77 radiation oncology departments in India, one each in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are headed by FRCOs, whereas Nepal and Pakistan have none.

Conclusions

With the current growth rate of FRCOs and MRCOs, India will achieve gender parity within a decade; however, the rest of the countries will not achieve this in the near future. Analysis of radiation/clinical oncologists' registration data with their respective national bodies revealed an encouraging growth in the number of FRCOs as against their male counterparts in the last 5 years, compared with previous decades, especially in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lanka show high gender neutrality and adopted a multi-tasking and holistic approach of clinical oncology practices as also seen in Scandinavian countries. Such practice may be helpful to improve gender equality in radiation/clinical oncology practice for the other countries in the South Asian region.

中文翻译：

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南亚女性放射/临床肿瘤学家的成长特征：性别中立性和领导地位的评估

目标

评估女性放射/临床肿瘤学家 (FRCO) 的时间增长模式，并在适用的情况下预测南亚不同国家的性别中立性。

材料和方法

南亚由阿富汗、不丹、马尔代夫、孟加拉国、印度、尼泊尔、巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡组成。根据各自的国家注册数据评估了后五个拥有放射肿瘤学设施的国家的 FRCO 的增长模式。根据年均差异增长率，连同现有的女性和男性放射/临床肿瘤医师 (MRCO)，预测未来 10 年 FRCO 和 MRCO 的累积数量。有关处于领导地位的 FRCO 的数据也是从不同来源计算得出的。

结果

由于人口众多，该地区的放射/临床肿瘤学家总数为 4074 人，其中 91.8% 在印度。FRCO 和 MRCO 的总数分别为 1370 和 2704，男女比例为 1:2。印度 FRCO 的年均增量增长最高（12.7 人/年），尼泊尔最低（0.4 人/年），巴基斯坦没有数据。如果保持目前的增长率，印度将在 2027-2030 年实现性别中立。在其他国家，性别中立不太可能在不久的将来实现。在领导职位方面，印度有 56-77 个放射肿瘤科，孟加拉国和斯里兰卡各有一个，由 FRCO 领导，而尼泊尔和巴基斯坦则没有。

结论

按照目前 FRCO 和 MRCO 的增长率，印度将在十年内实现性别均等；但是，其他国家在不久的将来不会实现这一目标。对放射/临床肿瘤科医生在各自国家机构的注册数据的分析显示，与过去几十年相比，过去 5 年 FRCO 的数量与男性同行相比出现了令人鼓舞的增长，特别是在孟加拉国、斯里兰卡和印度。斯里兰卡表现出高度的性别中立性，并采用了临床肿瘤学实践的多任务和整体方法，这在斯堪的纳维亚国家也可以看到。这种做法可能有助于改善南亚地区其他国家在放射/临床肿瘤学实践中的性别平等。