Trends in Ethnicity and Gender Among UK Authors in The British Medical Journal and the Lancet over the Past 20 Years: A Longitudinal Analysis

A study published in The Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine Journal explored two decades of ethnicity and gender trends of authors in two of the world's leading British medical journals: The British Medical Journal (The BMJ) and the Lancet. The research utilised Ethnicity Estimator Software from the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) to undertake a comprehensive longitudinal analysis spanning 82,143 articles (over 97% of all articles published between 2002 and 2022) and sheds light on the progress (or lack thereof) in achieving diversity in academic authorship.

Key Findings:

Gender Equity:

• Women have made significant strides in The BMJ, with their representation peaking at 42% for first authors and 43% for last authors.
• However, in the Lancet, women remain underrepresented, accounting for only 35% of first authors and 27% of last authors.

Ethnic Representation:

• Black authors have been consistently underrepresented in both journals, with their numbers remaining below 1% for most of the two decades.
• Asian authors have seen a rise in their representation, now aligning more closely with their proportion in the general UK population, fluctuating between 2% to 10%.

Why is this Important?

The representation of diverse voices in academic publishing is not just a matter of equity; it's about ensuring that research is comprehensive, inclusive, and reflective of the society it serves. A lack of diversity can lead to biases in research, which can have far-reaching implications for medical practices, policies, and patient care. Moreover, these findings have economic implications. A diverse research community can lead to more innovative solutions, addressing a broader range of issues, ultimately benefiting the healthcare industry and the economy at large.

While there have been positive strides in gender representation, especially in The BMJ, there's still a long way to go, particularly concerning ethnic diversity. The underrepresentation of Black authors is a pressing concern. It's clear that while some diversity initiatives have been successful for certain groups, they may not be as effective for others. Tailored strategies are essential to ensure that all voices are heard and represented in the world of academic medicine.

Publication: Abdalla, S., Abdalla, M., Saad, M., Jones, D., Podolsky, S., & Abdalla, M. (2023). Ethnicity and gender trends of UK authors in The British Medical Journal and the Lancet over the past two decades: a comprehensive longitudinal analysis. EClinicalMedicine, 64, 102174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102174?

CDRC-ULO Data: Ethnicity Estimator software https://data.cdrc.ac.uk/dataset/ethnicity-estimator-software

People:

Salwa A

Moustafa Abdallah

Mohamed Abdalla