How do rates of self-reported mistreatment and sources of mistreatment vary between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) general surgery residents and their non-LGBTQ+ peers?
A study is claiming that mistreatment (i.e. discrimination, harassment, and bullying) is a common experience for LGBTQ+ surgery residents, with attending surgeons being the most common overall source. Increased suicidality among LGBTQ+ surgery residents is associated with this mistreatment.
The study – “Experiences of LGBTQ+ Residents in US General Surgery Training Programs” by Evan A. Heiderscheit, Cary Jo R. Schlick, Ryan J. Ellis, et al – appeared in JAMA Surgery.
This study that involved 6,381 surgical residents specifically found:
- 59.2% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported experiencing discrimination, versus 42.3% of non-LGBTQ+ respondents
- 47.5% experienced sexual harassment, versus 29.3% of non-LGBTQ+ respondents
- 74.8% experienced bullying, versus 66.9% of non-LGBTQ+ respondents
While LGBTQ+ residents reported similar perceptions of the learning environment, career satisfaction, and burnout , they still have more frequent considerations of leaving their program and suicide.
For the researchers, “multifaceted interventions are necessary to develop safer and more inclusive learning environments.
