Abstract
Introduction
An observatory of sexual harassment and psychological abuse was set up at one of France’s largest schools of medicine to both quantify and reduce sexual harassment or psychological abuse of medical students.
Methods
Over a 2-year period, we described the evolution of sexual harassment and psychological abuse and explored for associated factors. Moreover, a qualitative analysis using an inductive approach was performed from students’ verbatim.
Results
2795 responses were collected. Sexual harassment was reported in 7% and psychological abuse in 15%, at baseline, and decreased after the observatory was set up. Women had higher odds of being a victim of sexual harassment. Older students reported less often psychological abuse and being a witness of sexual harassment. Surgery departments were associated with up to 5.7-fold increased odds of sexual harassment. Surgery and pediatrics departments were associated with a 2-fold increased odds of psychological abuse. Qualitative analysis revealed four categories: humiliation, the feeling of inferiority, sexual harassment, and manifestations of violence.
Conclusion
During clerkships, factors associated with higher odds of sexual harassment and psychological abuse were female gender, younger age, and departments of surgery. Setting up such an observatory may contribute to reduce this burden and provide a useful tool to raise awareness.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Glossary
Evaluation: Evaluation of interventions intended to decrease student mistreatment in medical school.
Student mistreatment: Psychological and/or sexual mistreatment of student during clerkship.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Quentin Lisan
Quentin Lisan, MD PhD, is an Otolaryngologist in Paris and his research focuses on epidemiology and medical teaching.
Bénédicte Pigneur
Bénédicte Pigneur, MD PhD, is a Pediatrician in Paris and involved in improving medical education.
Simon Pernot
Simon Pernot, MD PhD, is an Oncologist in Bordeaux and his research is partly based on medical education.
Cécile Flahault
Cécile Flahault, PhD, is a Psychologist in Paris and involved in improving medical students’ clerkship.
Frédéric Lenne
Frédéric Lenne, is Technician and involved in improving all communications tools with medical students.
Gérard Friedlander
Gérard Friedlander, MD PhD, is Professor of Physiology and was dean of the Paris Descartes School of Medicine. He is committed to students’ well-being.
Cécile Badoual
Cécile Badoual, MD PhD, is Professor of Histology and created the observatory together with Brigitte Ranque and Cédric Lemogne.
Brigitte Ranque
Brigitte Ranque, MD PhD, is a Professor of Internal Medicine of the Paris Descartes School of Medicine and is committed into improving medical students’ clerkship.
Cédric Lemogne
Cédric Lemogne, MD PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry of the Paris Descartes School of Medicine and is committed into improving medical students’ clerkship.