Sex influences how attendings evaluate surgical residents in the operating room

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sex on facultys' perception of resident autonomy and performance.

Methods: Autonomy/performance/complexity evaluations performed by faculty of categorical general surgery residents (2015-2021) were analyzed. Comparisons of scores by faculty and resident sex were performed.

Results: A total of 10967 paper/electronic evaluations were collected. Female attendings rated female residents significantly lower in autonomy when compared to males (2.75 vs 2.91, p ​= ​0.0037). There was no significant difference in autonomy ratings for male versus female residents when evaluated by a male attending (2.93 vs 2.96, p ​= ​0.054) but male attendings did rate female residents significantly lower in autonomy at the highest complexities (2.37 vs 2.50, p ​= ​0.012).

Conclusion: The data suggests a unique interaction between attending and resident sex. A periodic evaluation of evaluations within one's program may provide invaluable implicit bias insight and should be considered.