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Dryad

Experiences of US medical students

Karl, Jamie1

Published Apr 30, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.cz8w9gjbq

Data files

Apr 30, 2024 version files 90.65 KB
Apr 30, 2024 version files 90.65 KB

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if medical students of different races/ethnicities or genders have different perceptions of bias in the United States (US).

Methods: An IRB-approved, anonymous survey was sent to US medical students from November 2022 through February 2024. Students responded to statements regarding perceptions of bias toward them from attendings, patients, and classmates. Chi-square tests, or Fisher’s exact tests, when appropriate, were used to calculate if significant differences exist among genders or races/ethnicities in response to these statements.

Results: 370 students responded to this survey. Most respondents were women (n=259, 70%), and nearly half were White (n=164, 44.3%). 8.5% of women agreed that they felt excluded by attendings due to their gender, compared to 2.9% of men (p=0.018). 87.5% and 73.3% of Hispanic and Black students agreed that bias due to race negatively impacted research opportunities compared to 37.2% of White students (p<0.001). 87% and 85.7% of White and Asian/Pacific Islander students, respectively, believed that an attending would treat multiple trainees the same regardless of religion compared to 50% of Black students (p<0.001). A greater proportion of Hispanic and Black students than White and Asian/Pacific Islander students believe that bias due to gender affects research opportunities. More than a quarter of students personally experienced some form of bias from attending with no significant difference based on gender or race/ethnicity. Most women (66%) reported that they were assumed to be a nurse compared to 1.9% of men (p<0.001). 30% of Black, 18.8% of Hispanic, and 12.2% of Asian/Pacific Islander students felt excluded by their classmates due to their race compared to 4.3% of White students (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Gender or race/ethnicity affects perceptions of bias from attendings, patients, and classmates. This study lends insight into the experiences and perceptions of medical students of different racial/ethnic and gender identities backgrounds in the US.