• G E White.
• School of Health Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
• Med Educ. 2000 Dec 1;34(12):980-6.

ContextA survey of medical students' experiences of sexual harassment during medical training.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and nature of workplace sexual harassment as perceived by undergraduate medical students in order to address their learning needs concerning setting and maintaining sexual boundaries.DesignA questionnaire involving both quantitative and qualitative descriptions.SettingA university medical school in Australia.ParticipantsThe medical student population.Main Outcome MeasuresEstimated prevalence of sexual harassment according to gender and year of training; frequency of sexual harassment reported by category of behaviour, year of training and gender; type of sexual harassment and alleged harasser reported by gender; frequency of sexual harassment reported by category of behaviour and alleged harasser.ResultsFemale students encountered an unacceptable amount of sexual harassment in medical training from fellow students, patients, faculty and doctors they worked with, which was perceived as affecting learning opportunities.ConclusionGenderized sexual harassment exists in medical training. While both male and female students report episodes perceived as sexual harassment a difference in interpretation results in greater vulnerability for female students. Medical educators need to address issues of gender, sexual harassment, and the setting and maintaining of sexual boundaries in order to avoid a hostile learning environment.

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