Intersectionality and Its Impact on Microaggression in Female Physicians in Academic Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study

The medical student's case for TikTok

With the future of TikTok's fate remaining uncertain in the United States, two US medical students, one of whom is a content generator with over 68,000 followers, reflect on the impact of this social media app for medical trainees. In particular, they discuss the benefits on student wellbeing and the how the impact has helped those from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue a career in medicine.

Spousal Support and Physician Work-Life Integration and Burnout

Importance

Few studies have assessed whether factors outside the workplace, such as support from a spouse or partner, are associated with work-life integration (WLI) satisfaction and burnout among physicians. Evaluating such an association may help with developing novel strategies to address burnout and improve WLI satisfaction among this group.

Objectives

To compare spousal support among female and male physicians and explore associations of spousal support with WLI satisfaction and burnout.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional, multispecialty survey study was conducted among 661 faculty physicians employed at an academic medical center from March 26 to May 22, 2024.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Survey items measured spousal support (5 items), WLI satisfaction (1 item), and burnout (2 Maslach Burnout Inventory items). Associations of spousal support and gender with WLI and burnout were assessed using logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, weekly work hours, and weekly hours spent on household or childcare duties.

Results

Overall, 739 of 2103 faculty physicians (response rate, 35.1%) completed the survey, of whom 661 (89.4%) were currently married or partnered (359 of 661 men [54.3%]). In this subset, 322 of 351 male physicians (91.7%) and 276 of 298 of female physicians (92.6%) reported frequent career support (defined as often, most of the time, or always) over the last year from their spouse or partner. Physicians reporting high levels of career support from their spouse or partner had higher odds of WLI satisfaction (odds ratio [OR], 1.50 [95% CI, 1.22-1.86]; P < .001) and lower odds of burnout (OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.61-0.87]; P < .001), independent of gender and adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, weekly work hours, and weekly hours spent on household or childcare duties. Male physicians had higher odds of WLI satisfaction than female physicians (OR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.32-2.90]; P < .001), even after adjusting for spousal career support and other covariates listed, whereas odds of burnout did not significantly differ by gender (OR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.57-1.23]; P = .37).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study suggests that the level of career support from a spouse or partner is associated with WLI satisfaction and burnout among physicians, independent of gender. Future studies should explore whether interventions designed to enhance career support can improve WLI and well-being among physicians.

The roles of psychosocial resources in reducing the impact of gendered racism on worry among Black women attending an HBCU

Objective: The study ascertained the effects of Black college women's experiences of gendered racism on worry. Psychosocial resources were examined as factors expected to reduce the impact of gendered racial microaggressions on worry. Participants: The sample comprised 197 Black-identified students enrolled at a southern Historically Black College or University. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used. After adjusting for covariates, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models evaluated the associations between gendered racial microaggressions, psychosocial resources, and worry. Results: Frequent experiences of gendered racial microaggressions were associated with heightened worry. The Angry Black Woman stereotype had the most robust relationship with worry. Psychosocial resources, specifically mastery, self-esteem, and resilience, reduced the impact of gendered racial microaggressions on worry. Conclusion: Gendered racism contributes to increased worry, and thus, heightens the risk of experiencing anxiety. High levels of mastery, self-esteem, and resilience reduce the effects of gendered racism on worry.

Microaggression Interactions Among Healthcare Professionals, Trainees and Students in the Clinical Environment: A Mixed-Studies Review

This review aims to comprehensively consolidate and synthesize the existing body of empirical research on the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals, trainees, and students concerning microaggression interactions within diverse clinical settings. The review protocol was registered with the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO CRD42024546443). We employed the Joanna Briggs Institute's mixed-methods systematic review approach. Comprehensive electronic database searches were conducted across eight databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Social Science Database, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses) from their respective inception dates up to October 1, 2023. The selection criteria included studies reporting instances of interprofessional or intra-professional microaggressions occurring in clinical environments among healthcare professionals, trainees, and students identifying as heterosexual and without disabilities. In total, 37 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in our review. Our analysis revealed three primary themes: Racial Microaggressions in the Clinical Environment, Gender Microaggressions in the Clinical Environment, and Religious Microaggressions in the Clinical Environment. Research must delve deeply into these experiences to better understand their long-term consequences, while policy initiatives should be designed to establish equitable, inclusive, and respectful healthcare environments. Collaborative endeavors bridging research and policy are paramount to dismantling barriers and nurturing an inclusive healthcare landscape.