Majority of female surgical residents experience discrimination

General surgery residents, especially women, frequently experience discrimination or mistreatment, according to research published by The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study is based on a survey of 7,409 general surgery residents, administered with the 2018 American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination.

Six quick takeaways:

  • 31.9 percent of respondents (male and female) reported discrimination based on gender.
  • 16.6 percent reported racial discrimination.
  • 30.3 percent reported verbal and/or physical abuse.
  • 10.3 percent reported sexual harassment.
  • 65.1 percent of women reported gender discrimination
  • 19.9 percent of women reported sexual harassment.

Attending surgeons were reported as the most common source of sexual harassment and abuse, while patients and patients' families were responsible for most of the gender and racial discrimination experienced by residents.

The study also showed a link between mistreatment and burnout. Residents who experienced some form of mistreatment at least a few times per month were more likely to also have symptoms of burnout, according to the study. 

Read more here.

 

More articles on integration and physician issues:

Washington critical access hospital seeks to launch 12-physician residency
Ross University School of Medicine, Oakwood University partner to diversify physician workforce
Johns Hopkins surgeon: Physician-patient relationship under siege by costs

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