Association between anaesthesia–surgery team sex diversity and major morbidity (5 May 2024)

Summary

Team diversity is recognised not only as an equity issue but also a catalyst for improved performance through diversity in knowledge and practices. However, team diversity data in healthcare are limited and it is not known whether it may affect outcomes in surgery. This study examined the association between anaesthesia–surgery team sex diversity and postoperative outcomes.

The study found that care in hospitals with greater anaesthesia–surgery team sex diversity was associated with better postoperative outcomes. Care in a hospital reaching a critical mass with over 35% female anaesthetists and surgeons, representing higher team sex-diversity, was associated with a 3% lower odds of 90-day major morbidity.