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Gender-based discrimination is prevalent in the integrated vascular trainee experience and serves as a predictor of burnout.

Publication ,  Conference
Wang, LJ; Tanious, A; Go, C; Coleman, DM; McKinley, SK; Eagleton, MJ; Clouse, WD; Conrad, MF
Published in: J Vasc Surg
January 2020

OBJECTIVE: Trainee burnout is on the rise and negative training environments may contribute. In addition, as the proportion of women entering vascular surgery increases, identifying factors that challenge recruitment and retention is vital as we grow our workforce to meet demand. This study sought to characterize the learning environment of vascular residents and to determine how gender-based discrimination and bias (GBDB) affect the clinical experience. METHODS: A survey was developed to evaluate the trainee experience; demographics and a two-item burnout index were also included. The instrument was sent electronically to all integrated (0 + 5) vascular surgery residents in the United States. Univariate analyses were performed and predictors of burnout identified. RESULTS: A total of 284 integrated vascular residents were invited to participate and 212 (75%) completed the survey. Participants were predominantly male (64%) and white (56%), with a median age of 30 years (interquartile range, 28-32 years). Seventy-nine percent of respondents endorsed some form of negative workplace experience and 30% met high-risk criteria for burnout. More than a third (38%) of residents endorsed personally experiencing GBDB, with a significant difference between men and women (14% vs 80%; P < .001). Women were more likely than men to report witnessing GBDB (76% vs 56%; P = .003). Patients and nurses were the most frequently cited sources of GBDB (80% and 64%, respectively), with vascular surgery attendings cited by 41% of trainees. One in four female resident respondents indicated being sexually harassed during the course of training; this was significantly higher than for male residents (25% vs 1%; P < .001). Nearly half (46%) of trainees who witnessed or experienced GBDB thought that quality of patient care, job satisfaction, personal well-being, and personal risk of burnout were directly affected as a result of GBDB. GBDB was predictive of burnout (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.5; P = .04), as were longer work hours (>80 h/wk; odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-7.1; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: GBDB was experienced by 38% of integrated trainees, with women significantly more affected than men. GBDB is predictive of burnout, and this has significant implications for our specialty in the recruitment and retention of female physicians. Resources addressing these issues are needed to maintain a diverse workforce and to promote physician well-being.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Vasc Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6809

Publication Date

January 2020

Volume

71

Issue

1

Start / End Page

220 / 227

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures
  • United States
  • Surgeons
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Sexism
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk Assessment
  • Racism
  • Prevalence
 

Citation

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MLA
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Wang, L. J., Tanious, A., Go, C., Coleman, D. M., McKinley, S. K., Eagleton, M. J., … Conrad, M. F. (2020). Gender-based discrimination is prevalent in the integrated vascular trainee experience and serves as a predictor of burnout. In J Vasc Surg (Vol. 71, pp. 220–227). United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2019.02.064
Journal cover image

Published In

J Vasc Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6809

Publication Date

January 2020

Volume

71

Issue

1

Start / End Page

220 / 227

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures
  • United States
  • Surgeons
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Sexism
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk Assessment
  • Racism
  • Prevalence