Micro- and Macroaggressions Experienced by Physicians and Trainees: A Nationwide Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Qualitative Research
• Workplace Dynamics

Background:

• Existing literature on micro- and macroaggressions in medicine primarily relies on surveys and focus groups.
• A deeper understanding of individual physician and trainee perspectives is crucial for advancing this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore physicians' and physician trainees' lived experiences with micro- and macroaggressions in clinical settings.
• To investigate their perspectives on effective strategies for addressing these aggressions.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide qualitative study utilizing virtual one-to-one interviews.
• Conducted between October 2021 and March 2022 with 18 volunteer faculty physicians and trainees across the U.S.
• Grounded theory approach for transcript analysis, including codebook development and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants detailed a spectrum of aggressions experienced and their emotional/cognitive responses.
• The complexity of addressing aggressions and participants' self-reflections on their roles were highlighted.
• Diverse experiences were reported across different levels of training and faculty positions.

Conclusions:

• A majority of participants felt a responsibility to intervene in micro- and macroaggressions, especially when junior colleagues were present.
• However, most participants acknowledged feeling unprepared and uncertain about how to effectively respond to such incidents.