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September 2024 - Health

29% of doctors in training have experienced micro-aggressions, negative comments or oppressive body language from colleagues: A recent survey has considered how factors including gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and disability status can negatively impact doctors in training experiences.

The survey revealed that while the majority of doctors in training reported working in supportive workplaces, with 83% describing the quality of their experience in their posts as good or very good, individuals with specific protected characteristics (such as gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation - see footnote*) were more likely to encounter discriminatory behaviours from colleagues or other healthcare professionals. They also expressed less confidence than their peers in reporting instances of discrimination.

The General Medical Council (GMC) survey (which ran from March to May this year) involved 43,362 doctors in training. It revealed that a higher percentage of gay (38%) and bisexual (47%) doctors in training reported hearing insults, stereotyping, or jokes related to someone's protected characteristics compared to their heterosexual counterparts (21%). Additionally, 29% of male and 37% of female trainees with a disability reported experiencing this behaviour, compared to 22% of males and 27% of females without a disability.

In response to a question about how often they experienced micro-aggressions, negative comments or oppressive body language from colleagues, 32% of trainees from an ethnic minority background reported experiencing these behaviours, compared to 26% of white trainees. In addition, the data showed that there was a variation in experiences based on the religious affiliation of the trainees where 33% of  Sikh,  32% of Muslim and 32% of Hindu trainees reported experiencing this, in comparison to 27% of trainees who identified as Christian or non-religious.

And while 65% of male doctors in training expressed confidence in reporting discrimination without fear of adverse consequences, only 56% of their female counterparts agreed.

The GMC’s Chief executive Charlie Massey says: “It is troubling that doctors in training with particular protected characteristics experience more discriminatory behaviours than their peers and are less confident in reporting discrimination when it occurs. Every doctor in the UK has the right to work and train in an environment free from discrimination and all parties must understand that there is work we must do together to achieve that".

* The full list of characteristics protect by the Equality Act 2010 are listed here www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section4

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