Neurosurgery Resident Interviews: The Prevalence and Impact of Inappropriate and Potentially Illegal Questions - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2021 Jun 15;89(1):53-59.

doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyab059.

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Neurosurgery Resident Interviews: The Prevalence and Impact of Inappropriate and Potentially Illegal Questions

Natalie Limoges et al. Neurosurgery. 2021.

Abstract

Background: The impact of workplace discrimination has gained recognition. Nearly two-thirds of all medical residency applicants reported being asked inappropriate or potentially illegal interview questions. The use of such questions during neurosurgery residency interviews has not yet been studied.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of inappropriate or potentially illegal questions in residency interviews and the impact on applicants' rank lists.

Methods: All 2018 to 2019 United States neurosurgery resident applicants were anonymously surveyed. The survey included 46 questions focused on demographics; if they were asked questions regarding rank list, age, gender, marital status, family planning, religion, sexual orientation, or disability and whether such questions affected their rank list formation.

Results: Of 265 surveyed United States applicants, 133 (50%) responded. Most respondents were male (78%), 24% were married, and 10% had children. During the formal interview, 94% were asked at least 1 inappropriate or potentially illegal question. About 78% reported being asked about marital status, 29% were asked about intent to have children. About 46% reported being counseled on their personal life, 30% were asked about their ethnic background, and 15% were asked about their religion. A total of 2 candidates reported questions about mental illness/disability, and 2 candidates reported being asked about sexual orientation. About 45% of applicants that were asked at least 1 of these questions ranked those programs lower.

Conclusion: Nearly all (94%) neurosurgical residency applicants reported being asked at least 1 inappropriate or potentially illegal question during interviews. Our results indicate that inappropriate questions negatively affected program rankings.

Keywords: Discrimination; Harassment; Interview; Residency.

© Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2021.

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