C D Jacobs1, M R Bergen, D Korn. 1. Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA, USA. cjacobs@stanford.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: To measure the effect of an intervention to reduce gender insensitivity and sexual harassment at one medical school. METHOD: Stanford University School of Medicine undertook a multifaceted program to educate faculty and students regarding gender issues and to diminish sexual harassment. The authors developed a survey instrument to assess the faculty's perceptions regarding environment (five scales) and incidences of sexual harassment. Faculty were surveyed twice during the interventions (1994 and 1995). RESULTS: Between the two years, the authors measured significant improvements in mean ratings for positive climate (p = .004) and cohesion (p = .006) and decreases in the faculty's perceptions of sexual harassment (p = 0006), gender insensitivity (p = .001), and gender discrimination (p = .004). The faculty also reported fewer observations of harassing behavior during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program to diminish gender insensitivity and sexual harassment can measurably improve a medical school's environment.
PURPOSE: To measure the effect of an intervention to reduce gender insensitivity and sexual harassment at one medical school. METHOD: Stanford University School of Medicine undertook a multifaceted program to educate faculty and students regarding gender issues and to diminish sexual harassment. The authors developed a survey instrument to assess the faculty's perceptions regarding environment (five scales) and incidences of sexual harassment. Faculty were surveyed twice during the interventions (1994 and 1995). RESULTS: Between the two years, the authors measured significant improvements in mean ratings for positive climate (p = .004) and cohesion (p = .006) and decreases in the faculty's perceptions of sexual harassment (p = 0006), gender insensitivity (p = .001), and gender discrimination (p = .004). The faculty also reported fewer observations of harassing behavior during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention program to diminish gender insensitivity and sexual harassment can measurably improve a medical school's environment.
Authors: Baukje Miedema; Sue Tatemichi; Ryan Hamilton; Anita Lambert-Lanning; Francine Lemire; Donna P Manca; Vivian R Ramsden Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 3.275