Faculty Collaboration Database

Gender-Based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Among Academic Internal Medicine Hospitalists. J Hosp Med 2021 Feb;16(2):84-89

Date

01/27/2021

Pubmed ID

33496657

DOI

10.12788/jhm.3533

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85101728306 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment, both implicit and overt, have been reported in academic medicine. This study examines experiences of academic hospitalists regarding gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment.

METHODS: A survey was distributed to Internal Medicine hospitalists at university-based academic institutions in the United States. Questions assessed experiences regarding gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in their interactions with patients, as well as with other healthcare providers (HCPs).

RESULTS: Eighteen institutions participated in the survey, resulting in 336 individual responses. Female hospitalists more frequently reported inappropriate touch, sexual remarks, gestures, and suggestive looks by patients compared with male peers both over their careers (P < .001) and in the last 30 days (P < .001). Similarly, females more frequently reported being referred to with inappropriate terms of endearment (eg, "dear," "honey," "sweetheart") by patients both over their careers (P < .001) and in the last 30 days (P < .001). Almost 100% of females reported being mistaken by patients for nonphysician HCPs over their careers, compared with 29% of males (P < .001) (76% vs 10%, in the last 30 days; P < .001). Similarly, females more frequently reported sexual harassment over their careers (P < .05) and being mistaken for nonphysician HCPs by colleagues both over their careers (P < .001) and in the last 30 days (P < .001). Females rated their sense of respect both by patients (P < .001) and colleagues (P < .001) lower than males (P < .001). More females than males reported that gender negatively impacted their career opportunities (P < .001).

CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates that gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment are commonly encountered by academic hospitalists, with a significantly higher number of females reporting these experiences.

Author List

Bhandari S, Jha P, Cooper C, Slawski B

Authors

Sanjay Bhandari MD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Pinky Jha MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Barbara A. Slawski MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Female
Hospitalists
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Sexism
Sexual Harassment
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States