Addressing Sexual Harassment and Gender Bias: Mandatory Modules Are Not Enough.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Medicine
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Sexual harassment (SH) and gender bias (GB) persist in academic medicine despite policies and training.
• Hierarchical structures impede action against SH and GB.
• Current training often lacks engagement and effective educational techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an in-person, active training program focused on skills development for addressing SH and GB.
• To improve participants' confidence in recognizing, responding to, and reporting SH and GB.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed faculty and residents on lived experiences of SH and GB.
• Developed voluntary, experiential, interactive workshops using adult learning principles.
• Utilized case-based and Theater of the Oppressed formats in training sessions.

Main Results:

• 80% of faculty and residents participated in voluntary training.
• Significant improvements reported in confidence for recognizing, responding to, and reporting SH and GB.
• Participants reported applying learned skills in practice.

Conclusions:

• Voluntary, interactive training effectively enhances confidence in managing SH and GB.
• This intervention is practical, disseminable, and implementable across various academic settings.