The differences among educational background, certification characteristics, and professional subgroups of cardiologists in China: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Aim: To explore the gender, educational background, and choice of subspecialty characteristics of doctors working in the department of cardiology at four tertiary hospitals (Shanghai, Nanjing, Xuzhou, and Hangzhou, named Hospital A, B, C, and D, respectively) selected from four representative cities in China.

Methods: A total of 201 physicians from four tertiary hospitals in four cities in East China completed the questionnaire. Survey questions include physicians’ educational background, professional title, specialty, and postgraduate education. These hospitals were in cities with diverse sizes and affiliated with different organizations.

Results: Most cardiologists working in the invasive subspecialty have a senior title (59.29%), especially in Hospital D (100%). Hospital D has the highest proportion of cardiologists with a domestic post-graduate education (56.25%); however, Hospital A has the highest proportion of cardiologists with an international post-graduate education (46.67%). Compared with male doctors, there are fewer female doctors (20.59 vs. 79.41%, p < 0.001) and fewer female doctors have a senior title and post-graduate education (p < 0.005). Most female doctors choose the non-invasive subspecialty (86.67 vs. 13.33%, p < 0.001).

 Conclusion: Differences including age, sex, professional title, post-graduate education experience, and choice of subspecialty exist in the cardiologists from four representative hospitals in China. The extent to which these differences would affect the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases deserves further research.