Exploring the Impact of Gender Bias Among Medical Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gender Studies
• Healthcare Disparities

Background:

• Healthcare providers can exhibit implicit and explicit gender bias towards colleagues and patients.
• Limited research explores gender bias in medical trainees and its impact on patient care.
• This study investigates gendered expectations, perceived provider competence, and patient advocacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine gender bias in medical trainees.
• To assess the impact of physical exam type and trainee status on perceived provider competence.
• To evaluate gendered perceptions of clinical errors and patient advocacy.

Main Methods:

• A 2x2x2x2 mixed design was employed.
• 342 participants from a medical teaching hospital and a liberal arts college were included.
• Participants responded to vignettes depicting standardized clinical scenarios, varying participant gender, exam physicality, trainee status, and vignette physician gender.

Main Results:

• A significant interaction was found between exam physicality and participant gender concerning perceived competence.
• Males and females rated competence similarly during low-physicality exams (e.g., elbow exam).

Conclusions:

• Males did not recognize how clinical errors might affect hypothetical female patients, unlike females.
• Future research should explore interventions to increase awareness of gender bias among medical trainees.
• Interventions may improve patient care and perceptions of competence after errors.