L. Theiss1, G. McGwin3, H. Chen1, J. Porterfield1, S. Theiss2 1University Of Alabama at Birmingham,Department Of Surgery,Birmingham, Alabama, USA 2University Of Alabama at Birmingham,Department Of Orthopaedic Surgery,Birmingham, Alabama, USA 3University Of Alabama at Birmingham,Department Of Epidemiology,Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Introduction: The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Code of Conduct stipulates that program directors shall refrain from asking applicants “illegal or coercive questions about age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and family status.” Despite this code, we hypothesize that applicants to general surgery residency programs are often asked illegal questions and that there is a bias against female applicants, who are asked illegal questions more often. Furthermore, we hypothesize these questions are more prevalent in general surgery interviews than other surgical subspecialties.
Methods: A survey was developed and sent to applicants to a university-based general surgery residency program. Applicants were asked questions about demographics and family status. The survey also asked applicants about the frequency of illegal questions about age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and family status. Data was analyzed using a Chi Square test.
Results: 1161 applicants were sent the survey, of which 309 responded. 40% of the applicants were female and 60% were male. Female general surgery residents were less likely to be married (p=0.03) and less likely to have children than their male colleagues (p=0.04). 19% of female applicants were asked questions relating to their gender, while 3% of males were asked about their gender (p<0.0001). 25% of female applicants and 13% of male applicants were asked about plans for pregnancy (p=0.02). There was a trend towards female applicants being asked about their age and marital status. 35% of female general surgery applicants stated that being asked an illegal question moved that program down their rank list, while only 14% of males said the same (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: In a survey of general surgery residency applicants, illegal questions as defined by the NRMP were frequently asked in a formal interview setting. More female applicants than male applicants were asked illegal questions. These findings do not only highlight the frequency of illegal questioning, it also highlights an inherit bias towards female applicants. This study will help programs become aware of the high prevalence of illegal questions during residency interviews and the gender bias of these questions related to women, particularly in general surgery.