|
1
|
Yaghmour A, Alesa A, Anbarserry E, Abdullah Binmerdah M, Alharbi A, Housawi A, Almehdar M, Lytra H, Alsaywid B, Lytras DM. Challenges and Obstacles Faced by Trainee Female Physicians: An Integrative Research on Gender Discrimination, Stress, Depression and Harassment. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:160. [PMID: 33546188 PMCID: PMC7913154 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study's purpose is to assess the challenges and obstacles faced by female trainee physicians and suggest solutions that could resolve these issues and improve their performance. The study utilized an observational, analytical, cross-sectional design based on a self-administered open-ended and validated questionnaire which was distributed to 133 recruited female resident trainees of medical units in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The findings of the study revealed that 52% female trainees experienced gender discrimination, mostly (65%) by their superiors, while 40% were regularly harassed. About half (53%) of the interviewees were severely depressed, resulting in their reconsidering their career in medicine. A total of 14% thought of suicide, while four planned to end and five had attempted to end their life. However, only eight (6%) participants officially reported the cases of harassment to the accountable superiors. Half of them felt neglected by the healthcare administration, and one-fourth (24%) were underachieving in their studies and work. The study concluded that work dissatisfaction, limited clinical correspondence, high depression, burnout, stress and drop-out rates-all deriving from common gender discrimination-compose the alarming and complex challenges that female trainee residents in Jeddah of various levels and specialties have to face.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Yaghmour
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin-Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia; (A.Y.); (A.A.); (E.A.); (M.A.B.)
| | - Alaa Alesa
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin-Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia; (A.Y.); (A.A.); (E.A.); (M.A.B.)
| | - Esraa Anbarserry
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin-Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia; (A.Y.); (A.A.); (E.A.); (M.A.B.)
| | - Merihan Abdullah Binmerdah
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin-Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia; (A.Y.); (A.A.); (E.A.); (M.A.B.)
| | - Ahlam Alharbi
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Abdulrahman Housawi
- Planning and Organizational Excellence Administration, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Riyadh 11614, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Manal Almehdar
- Planning and Organizational Excellence Administration, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Riyadh 11614, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Hara Lytra
- School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Basim Alsaywid
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin-Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia; (A.Y.); (A.A.); (E.A.); (M.A.B.)
- Planning and Organizational Excellence Administration, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Riyadh 11614, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.A.)
- Urology Section, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah 11173, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dimitrios M. Lytras
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|