title: Prevalence of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment among trainees and Fellows of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anecdotal reports about bullying behaviour in intensive care emerged during College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) hospital accreditation visits. Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment (BDSH) in the medical profession, particularly in surgery, were widely reported in the media recently. This prompted the College to formally survey its Fellows and trainees to identify the prevalence of these behaviours in the intensive care workplace.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey of all trainees (n = 951) and Fellows (n = 970) of the CICM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 51% (Fellows, 60%; trainees, 41%). The overall prevalences of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment were 32%, 12% and 3%, respectively. The proportions of Fellows and trainees who reported being bullied and discriminated against were similar across all age groups. Women reported a greater prevalence of sexual harassment (odds ratio [OR], 2.97 [95% CI, 1.35-6.51]; P = 0.006) and discrimination (OR, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.39-3.17]; P = 0.0004) than men. Respondents who obtained their primary medical qualification in Asia or Africa appeared to have been at increased risk of discrimination (OR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.15-3.05]; P = 0.03). Respondents who obtained their degree in Australia, New Zealand or Hong Kong may have been at increased risk of being bullied. In all three domains of unprofessional behaviour, the perpetrators were predominantly consultants (70% overall), and the highest proportion of these was ICU consultants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of BDSH appears to be common in the intensive care environment in Australia and New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. bmvenkat@bigpond.net.au.
authors.forename: Bala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Charlie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corke
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raper
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinder
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joynt
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freebairn
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Benoj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashbolt
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hawker
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobe
authors.affiliation: The Board of the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003422:Critical Care; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D015995:Prevalence; D012577:Schools, Medical; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires