2124 Inclusivity in Clinical Practice from the Neurosurgical Lens

INTRODUCTION: Neurosurgeons and their trainees bear the responsibility of delivering equitable care across diverse patient populations, promoting collaboration along the way. Despite strides made, there remains a notable lack of literature on inclusivity within neurosurgical clinical practice. METHODS: A 95-item international survey comprising questions based on a 5 point Likert scale was used to report the perceptions and attitudes of neurosurgeons and trainees regarding inclusivity in clinical practice. Responses were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis examination to show the association between inclusivity and practice preference, job responsibilities and gender dynamics. RESULTS: Of the 657 total participants, 384 respondents (58.5% completion rate) provided complete data on DEI. 71% were male, 27% were female, 2% preferred not to answer. 62.5% staff, 34.7% trainees (residents and fellows). 54.8% reported working in academic centers. Individuals in academic practice and males perceived stronger commitment from institutional leadership towards fostering inclusivity compared to those not in academia and females. (p-value 0.05). Male respondents were also more inclined to believe they had equitable access to resources, fair treatment in patient referrals, and equal trust in surgical capabilities compared to their female counterparts (p-value < 0.05). Neurosurgeons were more likely than trainees to believe that both genders had equal access to surgical resources (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant strides being made regarding inclusivity and diversity in healthcare those in non-academic practice, female gender, and trainees still experience discrimination at work. To foster inclusivity in clinical practice it is essential for institutions to actively undertake efforts aimed at enhancing diversity within the field.