Women in leadership positions in dentistry: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: The objectives of this scoping review were to calculate the prevalence of women in leadership positions in dentistry, present existing research on gender (male, female) disparities affecting dentistry globally, identify gaps in the literature that can drive future research, and provide recommendations for achieving gender parity in leadership positions.

Types of studies reviewed: A search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed using search terms. The search strategies were developed to cover English-language articles from January 2016 through April 2022 that examined the prevalence of women in leadership positions in dentistry. Abstracts, newsletters, qualitative reports, and letters to the editors were excluded.

Results: Eighteen studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Low prevalence was noted of women in leadership positions in dentistry globally. Multiple reasons that have led to gender disparities were identified and recommendations for decreasing gender disparities and achieving gender equity in dentistry were provided.

Practical implications: Over the years, several factors have contributed to gender inequalities in dentistry. However, during the past decade, gender equity, inclusion, and diversity have been recognized increasingly as core values of the dental profession. Presenting and analyzing all available data surrounding this topic are of paramount importance to start formulating appropriate strategies to achieve gender parity in all areas of dental leadership.

Keywords: Gender; disparities; diversity; equity; female; gender gap; inclusion; systematic review.