Purpose: To determine the prevalence of sexual harassment(SH)
in obstetrics and gynecology(OBGYN) residency and fellowships.
Background: SH is a common problem the U.S. with 1 in 3 women
experiencing some form of it in their lifetime. According to the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM,) 24-50.4% of female
medical students experienced sexual harassment, which is more than their peers
in science and engineering, and 220% more than female students in non-science
fields.
Methods: We conducted a voluntary, anonymous survey study of
all U.S. OBGYN trainees in ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs.
The survey included the validated Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEQ) short
form, and other questions including demographics. The NASEM definition of SH
was used in the study and described to the participants in the survey
instructions. Descriptive statistics were utilized.
Results: The survey was distributed to 1473 trainees in the US;
395 responses were received (26.8%response rate: 86%females, 13.5%males). 20.6%
of participants (78/378: 21.1%females, 21.7%males) responded yes to having been
sexually harassed during their OBGYN training. Based on the SEQ questionnaire,
69.1% OBGYN trainees (253/366) had experienced some form of SH. Sexist
hostility was the most common form of SH followed by crude behavior
(211/253,83.4%;182/253,71.9% respectively). Males and senior OBGYN attendings
(154/208,74.4%;110/395,27.9% respectively) were named the most common
perpetrator; the operating room was the number one location for SH followed by
Labor and Delivery (97/395,24.6%;83/395, 21.0% respectively).
Discussions: Although OBGYN is a female dominated field, the rate
of SH of trainees remains high according to our data.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2020, Student, Resident, Faculty, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME,
Kimia Menhaji,
MD; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;
Anne Hardart,
MD; Stephanie Pan, MS
