Experiences of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, amongst ENT trainees in the UK: survey findings

Objectives The Association of Otolaryngologists in Training wanted to assess the experiences of bullying, harassment and raising concerns in their otolaryngology posts. Methods An online survey of otolaryngology trainees, with 190 responses out of 350 targeted, included questions on bullying and harassment. Results Many respondents had experienced or witnessed a range of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment behaviours, including: unrealistic expectations about workload, responsibilities or level of competence; inadequate or absent supervision; and undervaluing someone’s contribution (in their presence or otherwise). However, very few (5 per cent or less) had reported them. Twenty-one per cent would not feel confident in reporting bullying/harassment or sexual harassment problems, and 40 per cent do not feel safe raising concerns. Just 10 per cent said the existing reporting mechanisms are sufficient. Conclusion A number of initiatives have been introduced recently in the UK to address bullying and harassment within the medical workplace, but there is still potential for further development.