Sexual Harassment in Vascular Surgery Training Programs.
Journal
Annals of vascular surgery
ISSN: 1615-5947
Titre abrégé: Ann Vasc Surg
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 8703941
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2020
Jan 2020
Historique:
received:
28
02
2019
revised:
24
05
2019
accepted:
25
05
2019
pubmed:
21
6
2019
medline:
17
3
2020
entrez:
21
6
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome behavior or obscene remark that affects an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. We sought to examine its presence in vascular surgery training programs, identify factors associated with occurrence, and determine reporting barriers. An anonymous survey consisting of questions on frequency of sexual harassment including type/perpetrators/locations; why/how the practice occurs; reporting mechanisms/barriers to reporting; and demographic information was emailed to all vascular surgery trainees in the United States. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed. Of 498 invitations sent, 133 (27%) completed the survey. Fifty of 133 (38%) thought harassment occurred more commonly in surgical specialties with hierarchy/power dynamics, historical male dominance in field, and ignoring of behavior, being the most common reasons cited that it still occurs. Of 133, 81 (61%) respondents have either experienced (63/133, 47%) or witnessed (18/133, 14%) other trainees being harassed, with calling a sexist slur/intimate nickname being the most common behavior. Those affected were more commonly women (P = 0.0006), with the most common perpetrator being a surgical attending and the most common area of occurrence being the operating room. Reasons for not reporting included believing the behavior was harmless in intent (33/63, 52%) and feeling nothing would come of it if reported (28/63, 44%), but 15/63 (24%) feared repercussions and 15/63 (24%) feeling uncomfortable are identified as a target of sexual harassment. Of 133, 46 respondents were not aware of institutional mechanisms for reporting harassment, with only 70/133 (53%) feeling comfortable reporting to their departmental leadership. A significant number of vascular surgery trainees have experienced sexual harassment during their training. Over a third of respondents do not know institutional mechanisms for reporting, and almost half do not feel comfortable reporting to departmental leadership. Increasing education on harassment and reporting mechanisms may be necessary in vascular surgery training programs.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome behavior or obscene remark that affects an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. We sought to examine its presence in vascular surgery training programs, identify factors associated with occurrence, and determine reporting barriers.
METHODS
METHODS
An anonymous survey consisting of questions on frequency of sexual harassment including type/perpetrators/locations; why/how the practice occurs; reporting mechanisms/barriers to reporting; and demographic information was emailed to all vascular surgery trainees in the United States. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Of 498 invitations sent, 133 (27%) completed the survey. Fifty of 133 (38%) thought harassment occurred more commonly in surgical specialties with hierarchy/power dynamics, historical male dominance in field, and ignoring of behavior, being the most common reasons cited that it still occurs. Of 133, 81 (61%) respondents have either experienced (63/133, 47%) or witnessed (18/133, 14%) other trainees being harassed, with calling a sexist slur/intimate nickname being the most common behavior. Those affected were more commonly women (P = 0.0006), with the most common perpetrator being a surgical attending and the most common area of occurrence being the operating room. Reasons for not reporting included believing the behavior was harmless in intent (33/63, 52%) and feeling nothing would come of it if reported (28/63, 44%), but 15/63 (24%) feared repercussions and 15/63 (24%) feeling uncomfortable are identified as a target of sexual harassment. Of 133, 46 respondents were not aware of institutional mechanisms for reporting harassment, with only 70/133 (53%) feeling comfortable reporting to their departmental leadership.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
A significant number of vascular surgery trainees have experienced sexual harassment during their training. Over a third of respondents do not know institutional mechanisms for reporting, and almost half do not feel comfortable reporting to departmental leadership. Increasing education on harassment and reporting mechanisms may be necessary in vascular surgery training programs.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31220589
pii: S0890-5096(19)30414-5
doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2019.05.011
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
92-97Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.