A research paper published online on January 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine found that one in four female internal medicine residents has experienced sexual harassment.
As per Physician’s Weekly, Elizabeth M. Viglianti, M.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues measured the types of sexual harassment experienced by internal medicine residents, in addition to their knowledge of reporting mechanisms, reporting intentions and actions, and satisfaction with reporting outcomes.
The analysis incorporated survey responses from 22,277 candidates for the American College of Physicians 2021 Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (Aug. 19 to Sept. 15, 2021).
Researchers discovered that 12.8% of residents self-reported sexual harassment (24.8 percent of women versus 3.2 percent of men). Sexual harassment was reported by 7.6% of postgraduate year (PGY) 1 residents, 15% of PGY 2 residents, and 16.1% of PGY 3 residents.
Nearly six in ten (59.6 percent) of respondents who experienced sexual harassment were aware of the formal reporting procedures and indicated they would report an incident if one occurred (women, 60.6 percent; men, 53.6 percent).
62.0 percent of people (women, 61.3 percent; males, 66.8 percent) were unable to identify their most significant experience when questioned. 20,1 percent of residents who reported sexual harassment did so to residency leadership, and 47.6 percent were satisfied with the outcome.
The authors write, “These findings underline the necessity for significant action in response to accusations of sexual harassment and mistreatment in order to build a safer workplace for residents.”
