Protocol for Thematic Synthesis of Differential Attainment in the Medical Profession - ‘Bridging the Gap’ Series

Abstract

Differential Attainment is a phenomenon, recognised globally, where certain cohorts of people tend to have poorer career outcomes based on factors other than capability, academic effort, or motivation. Although by no means unique to or exclusive to, it is indeed well described and monitored in the health education/ training, and affects professionals throughout their entire career journey from admission to retirement. It is a marker of an unfair system and affects individuals as well as organisations adversely. It is the responsibility of all organisations, policymakers and regulators to urgently understand the causes, find solutions, and support those that are disadvantaged as a result of this inequality. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin addressing its declared mission of achieving excellence through promoting equality and diversity, along with its collaborative partners and a panel of international experts has created an Alliance for Equality in Health Professions. This Alliance will spearhead a thematic analysis of the entire spectrum of differential attainment in medical professions. This paper describes the protocol for the thematic synthesis of evidence, the priority setting partnerships for undertaking a critical integrative analysis, and the process for combining evidence from experts with lived experiences of grassroots professionals to produce meaningful solutions, actions, and policy enablers. The output will be published as a series of papers in Sushruta and culminate in a seminal report in 2021 when BAPIO turns 25.