title: Perceptions of gender-based discrimination during surgical training and practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women represent 15% of practicing general surgeons. Gender-based discrimination has been implicated as discouraging women from surgery. We sought to determine women's perceptions of gender-based discrimination in the surgical training and working environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following IRB approval, we fielded a pilot survey measuring perceptions and impact of gender-based discrimination in medical school, residency training, and surgical practice. It was sent electronically to 1,065 individual members of the Association of Women Surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received 334 responses from medical students, residents, and practicing physicians with a response rate of 31%. Eighty-seven percent experienced gender-based discrimination in medical school, 88% in residency, and 91% in practice. Perceived sources of gender-based discrimination included superiors, physician peers, clinical support staff, and patients, with 40% emanating from women and 60% from men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of responses indicated perceived gender-based discrimination during medical school, residency, and practice. Gender-based discrimination comes from both sexes and has a significant impact on women surgeons.
authors: School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA; anb48@georgetown.edu.
authors: Adrienne N
authors: AN
authors: Bruce
authors: MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, USA.
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Battista
authors: School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Plankey
authors: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Lynt B
authors: LB
authors: Johnson
authors: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: M Blair
authors: MB
authors: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063507:Sexism / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000193:education*
keywords: gender discrimination; sexual harassment; surgery; women; women in medicine; work discrimination
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