The prevalence of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in ophthalmology continues, despite increased awareness and institutional efforts over the past 5 years, according to a new survey study. The research, conducted through the Women in Ophthalmology email list, compared data from a 2018 survey with responses collected in 2023.
The cross-sectional survey was conducted between August 25 and September 25, 2023 and included responses from 289 ophthalmologists and trainees based in the United States and Canada. Among those surveyed, 97.9% of the respondents identified as women. The primary objective of the study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of sexual harassment within ophthalmology and to evaluate the extent of gender discrimination in the field.
In 2023, 59.5% of the respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment, a figure nearly identical to the 59.3% recorded in 2018. Among those who experienced sexual harassment, 62.2% reported occurrences within the past 5 years compared with 47.2% in 2018 (P < .001). In 2023, just 24.1% of respondents who experienced sexual harassment reported their most severe incident to an authority compared with 15.1% in 2018 (P = .02).
Among 287 respondents, 85% reported experiencing gender discrimination in some form, and 42% stated that gender discrimination had negatively affected their promotion opportunities and leadership roles.
Medical students and residents were the most common targets of sexual harassment. Attending physicians continued to be frequent perpetrators, but an increase in patient-related harassment was noted. The survey also found that bystander interventions have increased over the past 5 years, which may be the result of successful bystander training programs.
Despite greater awareness, many respondents expressed skepticism regarding institutional responses to harassment claims. Common concerns included fear of professional repercussions for reporting incidents, a lack of follow-through on investigations and disciplinary actions, and unclear or ineffective reporting mechanisms.
“These results support pursuit of validated strategies to foster a culture of zero tolerance toward harassment and discrimination,” wrote lead study author Olivia J. Killeen, MD, MS, of the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University, and colleagues. The researchers provided the following suggestions for next steps: antiharassment initiatives beyond bystander training; protection of target identity and the establishment of transparent ways to report, investigate, and resolve harassment cases; and accountability for perpetrators (ie, dismissal).
The study had several limitations, including a low representation of male and racially diverse respondents, potential response bias, and an inability to determine whether observed changes reflected an actual increase in harassment or increased recognition of such incidents. Additionally, because of the survey’s anonymity, the overlap between 2018 and 2023 respondents remains unknown.
No conflicts of interest were reported.
