Gender-based trends in caregiver roles: insights from patients undergoing outpatient surgery

Abstract This study explores gender based differences among caregivers and burden of caregiving for patients undergoing Mohs surgery for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. A single center cohort study of patients ( N = 679) with an accompanying caregiver who underwent Mohs surgery were analyzed. Caregivers completed a 14-item questionnaire assessing demographic factors, employment status, and time and resources utilized to care for patients. The study demonstrated a significantly higher number of caregivers were female ( N = 454, 66.9%), and that female caregivers were less likely to be employed full-time and more likely to be part-time (12% vs. 6.3%) or unemployed (62.3% and 53.4%). A significant portion of caregivers also tended to be spouses of the patients. These findings suggest that female caregivers bear a disproportionate burden, both in terms of time and socioeconomic barriers, relative to male caregivers. Increased awareness of potential gender disparities in caregiving roles is essential to promote improved health, opportunity, and equality in dermatologic surgery.