Accepted Type
Dedicated Poster
Code
LP4 - 09
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Poster
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Title
The diversity of medical school applicants and students at the University of Ottawa: a retrospective cohort study
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
It is critical to have medical students who are reflective of the Canadian population. Medical students from underrepresented groups are more likely to become physicians for minority populations and patients experience better quality of care when their physicians have similar backgrounds to their own. Despite these benefits, Canadian medical student and applicant demographics are not well defined. The purpose of this study was to explore medical student and applicant diversity at the University of Ottawa from 2013-2019. Demographics explored included: age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and rurality.
Methods
Voluntary diversity surveys were provided to medical students and applicants. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results
From 2013-2019, 465 medical students and 5007 applicants completed the survey. Majority of medical students and applicants were 21-25 years old (87% and 77%) and few identified as LGBTQ+ (7% and 13%) and had a disability (6% and 5%). Compared to 2016 Canadian Census data, medical students and applicants were less likely to be Indigenous, Black and Filipino and have a disability (p<0.05). Medical students (62%) were more likely to have a parental income of >$100000/year compared to Canadian households (32%). Medical students and applicants did not differ on Indigenous (3% and 1%), Black (2% and 4%) and Filipino (0.4% and 0.9%) identity and disability (p>0.05). Compared to applicants, medical students were more likely to live in a rural area (14% and 8%) (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Although applicants and medical students were similar, both differed from the Canadian population. Considering the results, more initiatives should be implemented to encourage a more representative applicant pool and student body.
Keyword 1
Diversity
Keyword 2
Admissions
Keyword 3
Medical school applicants
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Admissions
Additional Theme (First choice)
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Isabel Eisen
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
