Sexual Harassment in Vascular Surgery Training Programs

Abstract

Background: Sexual harassment is any unwelcome behavior or obscene remark that affects an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. We sought to examine its presence in vascular surgery training programs, identify factors associated with occurrence, and determine reporting barriers.

Methods: An anonymous survey consisting of questions on frequency of sexual harassment including type/perpetrators/locations; why/how the practice occurs; reporting mechanisms/barriers to reporting; and demographic information was emailed to all vascular surgery trainees in the United States. Descriptive and univariate analysis was performed.

Results: Of 498 invitations sent, 133 (27%) completed the survey. Fifty of 133 (38%) thought harassment occurred more commonly in surgical specialties with hierarchy/power dynamics, historical male dominance in field, and ignoring of behavior, being the most common reasons cited that it still occurs. Of 133, 81 (61%) respondents have either experienced (63/133, 47%) or witnessed (18/133, 14%) other trainees being harassed, with calling a sexist slur/intimate nickname being the most common behavior. Those affected were more commonly women (P = 0.0006), with the most common perpetrator being a surgical attending and the most common area of occurrence being the operating room. Reasons for not reporting included believing the behavior was harmless in intent (33/63, 52%) and feeling nothing would come of it if reported (28/63, 44%), but 15/63 (24%) feared repercussions and 15/63 (24%) feeling uncomfortable are identified as a target of sexual harassment. Of 133, 46 respondents were not aware of institutional mechanisms for reporting harassment, with only 70/133 (53%) feeling comfortable reporting to their departmental leadership.

Conclusions: A significant number of vascular surgery trainees have experienced sexual harassment during their training. Over a third of respondents do not know institutional mechanisms for reporting, and almost half do not feel comfortable reporting to departmental leadership. Increasing education on harassment and reporting mechanisms may be necessary in vascular surgery training programs.