The prevalence of harassment in the ObGyn health care field is a significant issue, according to the results of a new study.
A new systematic review highlighted the pervasive issue of sexual harassment, bullying, abuse, and discrimination, with women reporting the most occurrences.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, focused on a range of medical professionals including students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians primarily in the US and Canada. Data from 22 studies of over 8,000 individuals were analyzed.
Sexual harassment, experienced by a range of 28%-71% of participants (70% female, 51% male), and bullying, faced by 53%, are significant issues in the ObGyn field, according to the researchers. Workplace discrimination was also more prevalent among female practitioners (range 57%-67%) compared with males (39%). Additionally, 69% of ObGyn trainees reported encountering forms of sexual harassment, including sexual coercion. The review also highlighted that a majority of these incidents remain unreported, driven by fears of retaliation and skepticism about the handling of complaints.
Interventions designed to reduce harassment in medical settings are largely ineffective, the review revealed. Despite numerous initiatives, most have little impact, and the research into these interventions has not been "adequately" studied, noted the study investigators.
Comprehensive institutional and national efforts are necessary for effective intervention in harassment. "Successful interventions involved change at an institutional level and required support from multiple levels, including hospital administration, management, and leadership," they wrote.
“National medical and hospital associations and departmental and institutional leaders should use these findings to acknowledge the prevalence of bullying, abuse, and sexual harassment and begin to work collectively on best practices to prevent harassment and discrimination, improve reporting, and intervene once reports of alleged misconduct, abuse, and sexual harassment are received," they concluded.
The study was funded by the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, which provided administrative and financial support.
