• Naif Fnais, Muhammad al-Nasser, Mohammad Zamakhshary, Wesam Abuznadah, Shahla Al Dhukair, Mayssa Saadeh, Ali Al-Qarni, Bayan Bokhari, Taqreed Alshaeri, Nouf Aboalsamh, and AbdulAziz Binahmed.
• College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11695, Saudi Arabia. nfnais@yahoo.com
• Ann Saudi Med. 2013 Mar 1; 33 (2): 134139134-9.

Background And ObjectivesMultiple surveys of medical residents have shown a high incidence of harassment and discrimination in academic health centers. Harassment has a negative effects on residents' health and on their ability to function. No previous study has documented the prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents in Saudi Arabia. We aimed in this study to assess the prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents at a tertiary care academic hospitals in Saudi Arabia.Design And SettingCross-sectional survey conducted at National Guard Hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Ahsa'a from 27 July to 20 August 2010.Subjects And MethodsThe survey included questions on the prevalence of harassment of different types, inlcuding verbal, academic, physical and sexual harassment, as well as discrimination on the basis of gender, region of origin or physical appearance.ResultsOf 380 residents, 213 (56%) returned a completed questionnaire (123 male, 57.8%). At least one of type of harassment and discrimination was reported by 83.6% of respondents. The most frequently reported forms were verbal harassment and gender discrimination (61.5% and 58.3%, respectively). Sexual harassment was commonly reported (19.3%) and was experienced significantly more often by female residents than by male residents (P=.0061).ConclusionHarassment and discrimination of Saudi residents is common with more than three-quarters reporting having had such an experience. Identification of the risk factors is a necessary first step in clarifying this issue and could be used when planning strategies for prevention.

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