• Linda H Pololi, Robert T Brennan, Janet T Civian, Sandra Shea, Emma Brennan-Wydra, and Arthur T Evans.
• Director, National Initiative on Gender, Culture and Leadership in Medicine: C-Change, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Electronic address: lpololi@brandeis.edu.
• Am. J. Med. 2020 Feb 1; 133 (2): 245-248.

PurposeWe report on the extent of sexual harassment among residents and examine its relationship to specialty and program year and effects.MethodsUsing the C-Change Resident Survey, we surveyed residents in 34 internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery programs in 14 academic medical centers (AMCs). A total of 1708 residents completed the survey (70% response-rate); 51% (n = 879) were women. Respondents reported unwanted sexual comments, attention, or advances by a superior or colleagues within the last 2 years. Measures of vitality and ethical or moral distress were included in the surveys.ResultsRates of sexual harassment reported by women differed across the 34 programs, with an interquartile range of 0%-11%. Residents in pediatrics had the lowest frequencies of sexual harassment (mean 2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0%, 4%). Residents in internal medicine had higher rates of sexual harassment (mean 7%, 95% CI 1%, 25%). Residents in surgery had the highest rates (mean 12%, 95% CI 2%, 33%). Sexual harassment was associated with lower levels of vitality and higher ethical or moral distress (both, P <0.05).ConclusionsSexual harassment is more common for women residents in Internal Medicine and Surgery programs. The adverse effects of sexual harassment on female residents detracts from an institution's professional workforce.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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