scholarly journals Medical education too: sexual harassment within the educational context of medicine – insights from undergraduates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Assessment of the presence and characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is of global and increasing issue. Only limited data on the German situation are available so far.Methods: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and to identify persons involved an online survey was conducted in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany. A questionnaire was sent digitally via lock box after translation into German. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School between 1st October and the 30th November 2018.Results: A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate: 623 (28.8%) completed the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster. About 87.6% of those being victim of some form of verbal and /or physical assault were female; the majority by patients, followed by superiors and less frequently by colleagues. All students who had experiences with forced physical contact were females (100%). 58.9% of undergraduates were exposed to sexually harassing behaviour. 41.3% of those suffered from verbal and 31.8% from physical assaults, respectively. 8.5% of them faced forced physical contact. Perpetrators were mostly male superiors and male patients.Conclusions: Sexual harassment within medical educational field and working place exist in a huge German medical school and interventions are actually established by an independent voluntary task force to increase communication, reflection and instill prevention measure.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Assessment of the presence and characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is a global issue. Only limited international data are available so far. Methods: Aim: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and identify the perpetrators in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany. A survey was undertaken, using the Medical Women’s International Association sexual harassment questionnaire translated into German. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent as a link to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School via a mailing list between 1 October and 30 November 2018. Identifying or potentially identifying data were not collected. Data were analysed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual sexual harassment experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. Results: A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate, with 623 (28.8%) completing the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster Medical School with over half (58.9%) of all undergraduates being exposed to sexually harassing behaviour. In total, 31.8% of all participants reported having experienced unwanted physical sexual contact such as unwanted physical touching, with 87.6% of the victims being female. Overall, 41.3% personally experienced verbal sexual harassment of which 87.4% were female. Furthermore, 8.5% of undergraduates faced forced sexual contact such as oral, anal or vaginal penetration, intercourse and rape, with all victims being female. Perpetrators in these cases were mostly male medical superiors (7.0%) and male patients (18.3%). In general, most perpetrators were patients, followed by medical superiors and educators, and less frequently by colleagues. Conclusions: Sexual harassment in medical education and the medical workplace is a significant problem in a German medical school. Most students experiencing sexual harassment are females. Female students also experience the more serious forms of sexual harassment more often.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Assessment of the presence and the characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is a global issue. Only limited international data are available so far.Methods: Aim: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and to identify the perpetrators in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany.A survey was undertaken, using the Medical Womens’ International Association sexual harassment questionnaire translated into German. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent as a link to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School via a mailing list between 1st October and the 30th November 2018. Identifying and potentially identifying data was not collected.Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual sexual harassing experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. Results: A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate: 623 (28.8%) completed the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster, over half (58.9%) of all undergraduates were exposed to sexually harassing behavior: 31.8 % of all participants reported to have experienced unwanted physical sexual contact such as e.g. unwanted physical touch; 87.6% of the victims were female. 41.3 % of all students did personally experience verbal sexual harassment of which 87.4 % were female. 8.5% of all undergraduates faced forced sexual contact e.g. such as oral, anal or vaginal penetration, intercourse and rape; all victims were female. Perpetrators in these cases were mostly male medical superiors (7.0%) and male patients (18.3%). In general, the majority of perpetrators were patients, followed by medical superiors and educators, and less frequently by colleagues.Conclusions: Sexual harassment in medical education and the medical working place are a significant problem in a German medical school. The majority of students experiencing sexual harassment are females. Female students also experience the more serious forms of sexual harassment more often.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Assessment of the presence and the characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is a global issue. Only limited international data are available so far.Methods: Aim: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and to identify the perpetrators in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany.A survey was undertaken, using the Medical Womens’ International Association sexual harassment questionnaire translated into German. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent as a link to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School via a mailing list between 1st October and the 30th November 2018. Identifying and potentially identifying data was not collected.Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual sexual harassing experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. Results: A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate: 623 (28.8%) completed the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster, with 87.6% of female students experiencing some verbal and /or physical sexual harassment. The majority of perpetrators were patients, followed by medical superiors and educators, and less frequently by colleagues. All students who had experiences with forced sexual contact were females. Over half (58.9%) of all undergraduates were exposed to sexually harassing behaviour: 41.3% of those suffered from verbal harassment and 31.8% from unwanted physical sexual contact such as e.g. unwanted physical touch, while 8.5% of faced forced sexual contact e.g. such as oral, anal or vaginal penetration, intercourse and rape. Perpetrators were mostly male medical superiors (7.0%) and male patients (18.3%).Conclusions: Sexual harassment in medical education and the medical working place are a significant problem in a German medical school. The majority of students experiencing sexual harassment are females. Female students also experience the more serious forms of sexual harassment more often.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Assessment of the presence and characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is a global issue. Only limited international data are available so far. Methods Aim: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and identify the perpetrators in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany. A survey was undertaken, using the Medical Women’s International Association sexual harassment questionnaire translated into German. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent as a link to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School via a mailing list between 1 October and 30 November 2018. Identifying or potentially identifying data were not collected. Data were analysed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual sexual harassment experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. Results A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate, with 623 (28.8%) completing the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster Medical School with over half (58.9%) of all undergraduates being exposed to sexually harassing behaviour. In total, 31.8% of all participants reported having experienced unwanted physical sexual contact such as unwanted physical touching, with 87.6% of the victims being female. Overall, 41.3% personally experienced verbal sexual harassment of which 87.4% were female. Furthermore, 8.5% of undergraduates faced forced sexual contact such as oral, anal or vaginal penetration, intercourse and rape, with all victims being female. Perpetrators in these cases were mostly male medical superiors (7.0%) and male patients (18.3%). In general, most perpetrators were patients, followed by medical superiors and educators, and less frequently by colleagues. Conclusions Sexual harassment in medical education and the medical workplace is a significant problem in a German medical school. Most students experiencing sexual harassment are females. Female students also experience the more serious forms of sexual harassment more often.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Schoenefeld ◽  
Bernhard Marschall ◽  
Berit Paul ◽  
Helmut Ahrens ◽  
Janina Sensmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Assessment of the presence and the characteristics of sexual harassment in academic medicine is a global issue. Only limited international data are available so far.Methods: Aim: To assess the extent of sexual harassment and to identify the perpetrators in the student population of the medical school of Münster, Germany.A survey was undertaken, using the Medical Womens’ International Association sexual harassment questionnaire translated into German. The anonymous online questionnaire was sent as a link to all medical undergraduates at Münster Medical School via a mailing list between 1st October and the 30th November 2018. Identifying and potentially identifying data was not collected.Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods such as categorical variables. Baseline characteristics, e.g. answers by male or female medical students, were correlated with their individual sexual harassing experiences and perpetrator groups by means of univariate analysis. Results: A total of 2162 medical students were asked to participate: 623 (28.8%) completed the survey. Sexual harassment is a significant issue among medical students at Münster, with 87.6% of female students experiencing some verbal and /or physical sexual harassment. The majority of perpetrators were patients, followed by medical superiors and educators, and less frequently by colleagues. All students who had experiences with forced sexual contact were females. Over half (58.9%) of all undergraduates were exposed to sexually harassing behaviour: 41.3% of those suffered from verbal harassment and 31.8% from unwanted physical sexual contact such as e.g. unwanted physical touch, while 8.5% of faced forced sexual contact e.g. such as oral, anal or vaginal penetration, intercourse and rape. Perpetrators were mostly male medical superiors (7.0%) and male patients (18.3%).Conclusions: Sexual harassment in medical education and the medical working place are a significant problem in a German medical school. The majority of students experiencing sexual harassment are females. Female students also experience the more serious forms of sexual harassment more often.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp20X711293
Author(s):  
Sarah Garnett ◽  
Hajira Dambha-Miller ◽  
Beth Stuart

BackgroundEmpathy is a key health care concept and refers to care that incorporates understanding of patient perspective’s, shared decision making, and consideration of the broader context in which illness is experience. Evidence suggests experiences of doctor empathy correlate with improved health outcomes and patient satisfaction. It has also been linked to job satisfaction, and mental wellbeing for doctors. To date, there is a paucity of evidence on empathy levels among medical students. This is critical to understand given that it is a key point at which perceptions and practices of empathy in the longer term might be formed.AimTo quantify the level of empathy among UK undergraduate medical studentsMethodAn anonymised cross-sectional online survey was distributed to medical students across three universities. The previously validated Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used to quantify empathy. The survey also collected information on age, sex, ethnicity, year of medical school training and included a free-text box for ‘any other comments’.ResultsData analysis is currently underway with high response rates. Mean empathy scores by age, sex, year of study and ethnic group are presented. A correlation analysis will examine associations between age and year of study, and mean empathy sores.ConclusionThese data will help to provide a better understanding of empathy levels to inform the provision of future empathy training and medical school curriculum design. Given previous evidence linking experiences of empathy to better health outcomes, the findings may also be significant to future patient care


2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Shofler ◽  
Kathryn Bosia ◽  
Lawrence Harkless

Background: The fourth year of podiatric medical school is an important period in the education of the podiatric medical student, a period that consists largely of month-long clerkships. Nonetheless, there has been limited formal study of the quality of learning experiences during this period. Furthermore, there is limited knowledge of how podiatric medical students evaluate residency programs during clerkships. Methods: An online survey was developed and distributed electronically to fourth-year podiatric medical school students. The focus of the survey was the quality of learning experiences during externships, and decision making in ranking residency programs. Results: The most valuable learning experiences during clerkships were interactions with attending physicians, interactions with residents, and general feedback in surgery. Students self-identified that they most improved in the following areas during clerkships: forefoot surgery, clinical podiatry skills, and rearfoot surgery. The areas in which students improved the least were research, pediatrics, and practice management. The three most important factors students considered as they created their rank list were hands-on resident participation in surgical training, the attitude and personality of the residents, and the attitude and personality of the attending physicians. A range of surgical interest was identified among students, and students lacking in surgical interest self-reported less improvement in various surgical topics. Conclusions: The perspectives of fourth-year podiatric medical students are currently an underused resource. Improved understanding can help residency programs improve the quality of associated learning experiences and can make their programs more appealing to potential residency candidates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-323
Author(s):  
Thomas Flamini ◽  
Natasha R. Matthews ◽  
George S. Castle ◽  
Elliot M. Jones-Williams

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions towards a career in psychiatry among medical students and psychiatrists and identify how recruitment into the specialty may be improved. Design/methodology/approach This study locally compares medical student and psychiatric doctor responses to a structured online survey and structured interviews with key managerial figures in the Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Findings Comparison across two main areas (pre-decision exposure to psychiatry and reasons for considering a psychiatric career) found that both students and doctors were influenced to make a choice about a career in psychiatry during medical school. Medical students found compatibility with family life to be more important when considering psychiatry, whereas doctors cited content-based reasons as significant pull factors. Stigma and fear of being harmed deterred some students from choosing a career in psychiatry. Structured interview responses reiterated the importance of pre-medical school and undergraduate mentorship in bolstering future recruitment to psychiatry. Practical implications Medical students perceive certain career issues differently to their postgraduate counterparts. Widening the content-based appeal of psychiatry and optimising the medical school experience of the specialty via varied and high-quality placements may be a key step towards tackling the national shortfall in qualified psychiatrists. Originality/value This is the first published study comparing medical student and psychiatric doctor perceptions of a career in psychiatry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 662-669
Author(s):  
Karl W. Bitschnau ◽  
Pam Firth ◽  
Maria Wasner

AbstractObjectivesSocial work is considered to be a key player in Hospice and Palliative Care. To prove this claim, the Social Worker Task Force within the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) decided to carry out a survey. The aim of this survey was to generate basic data and thus to create a basis for further development of Palliative Care Social Work (PCSW) in Europe.MethodThe online survey consisted of two parts: in Part 1, the 57 collective members of the EAPC were asked to fill in an online questionnaire containing questions about basic data. In Part 2, individual Palliative Care Social Workers (SWs) from all over Europe were asked to fill in another questionnaire with a focus on the basic conditions concerning their jobs as well, as on their tasks and roles.ResultsThirty-two collective members of the EAPC completed the online questionnaire. SWs can be found in all of the Palliative Care settings, but there are considerable differences between the countries concerning the prevalence of SWs. Only five countries (20%) reported specialized qualification training in PCSW and just around half of the responding SWs had such a specialized training. The responding SWs (n = 360) were quite content with their working conditions. Tasks concerning patient and family and tasks concerning the interprofessional team were most prominent. There is a significant role overlap with other professions.Significance of resultsThe study reveals a very mixed picture of PCSW in Europe. This could be due to the high adaptability of social work, which is to be as flexible as possible to the needs of its clients. However, significant patterns, similarities, and differences emerge. The present study may, therefore, serve as a basis for further in-depth studies.


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