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Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Simulator Training for Endovascular Neurosurgery
Published on: May 6, 2020
Sex influences how attendings evaluate surgical residents in the operating room
Alvin J Chang1, Catherine M Kwon1, Mohsen M Shabahang2
1Department of General Surgery, Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N. Academy Ave, Danville, PA, 17822, USA.
Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on facultys' perception of resident autonomy and performance.
Methods:
Autonomy/performance/complexity evaluations performed by faculty of categorical general surgery residents (2015-2021) were analyzed. Comparisons of scores by faculty and resident sex were performed.
Results:
A total of 10967 paper/electronic evaluations were collected. Female attendings rated female residents significantly lower in autonomy when compared to males (2.75 vs 2.91, p = 0.0037). There was no significant difference in autonomy ratings for male versus female residents when evaluated by a male attending (2.93 vs 2.96, p = 0.054) but male attendings did rate female residents significantly lower in autonomy at the highest complexities (2.37 vs 2.50, p = 0.012).
Conclusion:
The data suggests a unique interaction between attending and resident sex. A periodic evaluation of evaluations within one's program may provide invaluable implicit bias insight and should be considered.
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