Gender Differences in Attending Physicians' Feedback to Residents: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Our study revealed qualitative differences in the kind of feedback that male and female EM residents received from attending physicians. The findings suggest that attending physicians should endeavor to provide male and female residents with consistent feedback and guard against gender bias in their perceptions of residents' capabilities.

Reducing gender bias in surgery

“…Among students interested in surgery, women are less likely to be considered exceptional candidates compared with men of equal calibre. Once in training, women receive less formative feedback and less operating room autonomy than men. To counteract these barriers, surgeons should begin by encouraging women to consider surgery.…”

Gender effects in medical education: implications for training and gender equity in regional anesthesia

“…However, when female residents displayed a masculine trait such as autonomous leadership, they received mixed messages, praised by some attendings but criticized by others for being argumentative 31. Ninety-two percent of female residents received negative personality comments, compared with 50% of male residents 31. Similarly, Myers et al showed that female general surgical residents displaying confident behavior were more likely to receive criticism from attendings (female 56% vs male 29%, p<0.001) 24.…”

“…The authors put forward several possible explanations for their finding, including that PGY3 residents have assertiveness and a commanding presence in ways that are characteristically male and that are regarded as undesirable when exhibited by a woman. Mueller et al qualitatively analyzed 1317 direct observation evaluations over 3 years in an emergency medicine residency program, revealing that stereotypically masculine traits were viewed by assessors as a requirement for residents to excel 31. However, when female residents displayed a masculine trait such as autonomous leadership, they received mixed messages, praised by some attendings but criticized by others for being argumentative 31.…”

“…Mueller et al qualitatively analyzed 1317 direct observation evaluations over 3 years in an emergency medicine residency program, revealing that stereotypically masculine traits were viewed by assessors as a requirement for residents to excel 31. However, when female residents displayed a masculine trait such as autonomous leadership, they received mixed messages, praised by some attendings but criticized by others for being argumentative 31. Ninety-two percent of female residents received negative personality comments, compared with 50% of male residents 31.…”

The complexity of mentoring observed through engagement with programmatic assessment

“…complexities are introduced by diversity and intersectionality in an organisation, with gender, race and institutional culture being three additional factors that can be anticipated to have influence Women tend to have a harder time finding mentors, 9 perhaps because they are rarely perceived as 'rising stars' 2 in male-dominated workplace cultures. According to Mueller et al, 13 male residents receive more consistent feedback on how to develop the personal qualities they need as physicians in emergency medicine than do female residents. Female residents, by contrast, tend to receive more strong criticism when they lack the very same personal qualities.…”