Volume 199 - Issue 7
Sexual harassment of Australian female general practitioners by patients
Authors: Peter A Bratuskins, Heather A McGarry and Stephen J Wilkinson
Med J Aust 2013; 199 (7): 454. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.11855
Published online: 7 October 2013
Published online: 7 October 2013
More than half of female Australian GPs experience sexual harassment from patients, while less than 7% report ever receiving training on this issue.
To the Editor: In 2010, an Australian survey was undertaken to examine the nature and extent of female general practitioners’ experience of sexual harassment by patients and how they respond to such episodes. Previous research has shown the high prevalence of sexual harassment or abuse of medical practitioners, but little is known about the nature of harassment and responses of individual practitioners.1-3
A random sample of 600 female Australian GPs were sent questionnaires. Responses were received from 180 GPs (30%); two GPs declined to participate. Respondents received a $20 gift card. The questionnaire design was informed by previous research2 and a focus group of female GPs, and included items about frequency of episodes, types of behaviour, impact on practice and GP demographics (Box). Ethics approval was provided by the Monash University Standing Committee on Ethics in Research involving Humans. Funding for this project was provided by The Shepherd Foundation.
Most respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment by a patient (54.5% [97/178]; 95% CI, 44.3%–64.1%). Of those respondents who reported any sexual harassment, 9.3% (9/97; 95% CI, 3.52%–15.08%) reported being sexually harassed more than eight times.
The most common behaviours reported are:
request for inappropriate examination (64.9% [63/97]; 95% CI, 55.4%–74.4%)
inappropriate exposure of body parts (55.7% [54/97]; 95% CI, 45.8%–65.6%)
gender-based remarks (43.3% [42/97]; 95% CI, 33.4%–53.2%)
inappropriate gifts (42.3% [41/97]; 95% CI, 32.5%–52.1%)
sexual remarks (36.1% [35/97]; 95% CI, 26.5%–45.7%)
touching or grabbing (30.9% [30/97]; 95% CI, 21.7%–40.1%)
Of those respondents who reported sexual harassment by patients, two-thirds (66.0% [64/97]; 95% CI, 56.6%–74.4%) reported making personal changes or changes to their consulting style as a result. The most common reported changes were:
adopt more formal manner in consultations (46.4% [45/97]; 95% CI, 36.9%–56.3%)
alter or not perform examinations (17.5% [17/97]; 95% CI, 9.9%–25.0%)
keep personal life more private (16.5% [16/97]; 95% CI, 9.1%–23.9%)
change style of dress (16.5% [16/97]; 95% CI, 9.1%–23.9%)
no longer work after hours or alone (16.5% [16/97]; 95% CI, 9.1%–23.9%)
Very few respondents (6.7% [12/178]; 95% CI, 5.5%–18.4%) reported ever receiving training relating to sexual harassment by patients.
These results suggest that a substantial proportion of female GPs working in Australia will experience sexual harassment by patients during their career and are likely to change their style of practice as a result. Given the likely adverse effects of exposure to sexual harassment,5,6 greater dialogue is needed within the medical profession with research and action to increase awareness of the issue, develop specific training and support pathways to help prevent sexual harassment by patients and assist those clinicians who experience sexual harassment by patients. Workplace safety training should also recognise possible sexual harassment by patients, and policy and practice-based approaches are needed to support clinicians in practice.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Forrest LE, Herath PM, McRae IS, Parker RM. A national survey of general practitioners’ experiences of patient-initiated aggression in Australia. Med J Aust 2011; 194: 605-608. 0_BABDAFDI
- Phillips SP, Schneider MS. Sexual harassment of female doctors by patients. N Engl J Med 1993; 329: 1936-1939. 0_i1143053
- Magin PJ, Adams J, Sibbritt DW, et al. Experiences of occupational violence in Australian urban general practice: a cross-sectional study of GPs. Med J Aust 2005; 183: 352-356. 0_i1143055
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Medical labour force 2009. Canberra: AIHW, 2011. (AIHW bulletin no. 89; Cat. No. AUS 138.) http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/ ?id=10737419680 (accessed Sep 2013).
- Schneider M, Phillips SP. A qualitative study of sexual harassment of female doctors by patients. Soc Sci Med 1997; 45: 669-676. 0_i1143059
- Gutek B, Koss M. Changed women and changed organizations: consequences of and coping with sexual harassment. J Vocat Behav 1993; 42: 28-48. 0_i1143063
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