Strategies to bridge gender disparities in AAS and citations in the oncology literature

In a recent interview, Rebecca A. Campbell, MD, a urologic oncology fellow at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, discussed concrete steps to mitigate gender-based disparities in Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS) and citations within oncology, emphasizing the importance of awareness. She highlighted several strategies outlined in a recent paper to address these issues.¹

One key approach is to increase the representation of women on editorial boards of journals and as reviewers. This can help decrease cognitive bias and promote research authored by women, especially in prominent journals. Campbell noted that articles cited in high-impact journals often receive greater attention in news media and social platforms, leading to higher AAS. By increasing women's presence in these influential roles, the gap in both AAS and citation could potentially be closed.

Another significant step involves encouraging and promoting women researchers and physicians to lead large clinical trials. These trials tend to garner more media attention but are often led by men. Additionally, funding bodies should be urged to consider AAS and citation data within the context of existing biases when evaluating grant applications.

For health care professionals consuming oncology research, Campbell stressed the importance of being aware of these disparities. Although acknowledging the existence of gender gaps, she cautioned against evaluating the significance of an article based on the gender of its first or last author. The goal is to close the gender gap through systemic changes rather than individual bias in article interpretation.

REFERENCE

1. Campbell RA, Helstrom E, Chew L, et al. Gender disparities in citations and Altmetric Attention Score in oncology. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Apr 10:OP2400767. doi:10.1200/OP-24-00767