Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
Simulator Training for Endovascular Neurosurgery
Published on: May 6, 2020
Unmasking bias and perception of lead surgeons in the operating room: A simulation based study
Priti P Parikh1, Savannah C Kipfer1, Timothy N Crawford2
1Department of Surgery, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA.
Background:
Perception of a surgeon based on physical attributes in the operating room (OR) environment has not been assessed, which was our primary goal.
Methods:
A common OR scenario was simulated using 8 different actors as a lead surgeon with combinations of age (<40 vs. >55), race (white vs. black), and gender (male vs. female). One video scenario with a survey was electronically distributed to surgeons, residents, and OR nurses/staff. The overall rating, assessment, and perception of the lead surgeon were assessed.
Results:
Of 974 respondents, 64.5% were females. There were significant differences in the rating and assessment based upon surgeon's age (p = .01) favoring older surgeons. There were significant differences in the assessments of surgeons by the study group (p = .03). The positive assessments as well as perceptions trended highest towards male, older, and white surgeons, especially in the stressful situation.
Conclusion:
While perception of gender bias may be widespread, age and race biases may also play a role in the OR. Inter-professional education training for OR teams could be developed to help alleviate such biases.
