Understanding the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Harassment in Surgical Training.
Journal
Annals of surgery
ISSN: 1528-1140
Titre abrégé: Ann Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0372354
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 2020
04 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
5
4
2019
medline:
5
6
2020
entrez:
5
4
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To investigate the occurrence, nature, and reporting of sexual harassment in surgical training and to understand why surgical trainees who experience harassment might not report it. This information will inform ways to overcome barriers to reporting sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a known phenomenon with reports of high frequency in the medical field. Aspects of surgical training leave trainees especially vulnerable to harassing behavior. The characteristics of sexual harassment and reasons for its underreporting have yet to be studied on the national level in this population. An electronic anonymous survey was distributed to general surgery trainees in participating program; all general surgery training programs nationally were invited to participate. Sixteen general surgery training programs participated, yielding 270 completed surveys (response rate of 30%). Overall, 48.9% of all respondents and 70.8% of female respondents experienced at least 1 form of sexual harassment during their training. Of the respondents who experienced sexual harassment, 7.6% reported the incident. The most common cited reasons for nonreporting were believing that the action was harmless (62.1%) and believing reporting would be a waste of time (47.7%). Sexual harassment occurs in surgical training and is rarely reported. Many residents who are harassed question if the behavior they experienced was harassment or feel that reporting would be ineffectual-leading to frequent nonreporting. Surgical training programs should provide all-level education on sexual harassment and delineate the best mechanism for resident reporting of sexual harassment.
Sections du résumé
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occurrence, nature, and reporting of sexual harassment in surgical training and to understand why surgical trainees who experience harassment might not report it. This information will inform ways to overcome barriers to reporting sexual harassment.
SUMMARY/ BACKGROUND DATA
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a known phenomenon with reports of high frequency in the medical field. Aspects of surgical training leave trainees especially vulnerable to harassing behavior. The characteristics of sexual harassment and reasons for its underreporting have yet to be studied on the national level in this population.
METHODS
An electronic anonymous survey was distributed to general surgery trainees in participating program; all general surgery training programs nationally were invited to participate.
RESULTS
Sixteen general surgery training programs participated, yielding 270 completed surveys (response rate of 30%). Overall, 48.9% of all respondents and 70.8% of female respondents experienced at least 1 form of sexual harassment during their training. Of the respondents who experienced sexual harassment, 7.6% reported the incident. The most common cited reasons for nonreporting were believing that the action was harmless (62.1%) and believing reporting would be a waste of time (47.7%).
CONCLUSION
Sexual harassment occurs in surgical training and is rarely reported. Many residents who are harassed question if the behavior they experienced was harassment or feel that reporting would be ineffectual-leading to frequent nonreporting. Surgical training programs should provide all-level education on sexual harassment and delineate the best mechanism for resident reporting of sexual harassment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30946072
doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003295
pii: 00000658-202004000-00003
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
608-613Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
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