Prevalence, Characteristics, and Intersections of Sexual Harassment and Nonconsensual Contact among Medical Students in the United States: Q&A and Discussion

Proposal: The prevalence and nature of unwanted sexual encounters and harassment in medical education environments remain under-explored, particularly among osteopathic medical students. This paucity of research contributes to a significant gap in understanding the experiences of these students and the intersectionality of gender and sexual orientation in such contexts. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of nonconsensual sexual contact and sexual harassment among medical students, with a focus on understanding how gender and sexual orientation relate to these experiences. The inclusion of osteopathic medical students in the sample adds a novel dimension to this area of research. Utilizing a cross-sectional approach, the study encompassed a sample of 23,124 medical students across various U.S. medical schools, including osteopathic institutions. From this pool, 245 respondents provided complete or partial survey responses. The survey primarily focused on instances of nonconsensual sexual contact and sexual harassment, examining the correlation between these incidents and the respondents' gender and sexual orientation. The findings revealed that 12.2% of respondents experienced nonconsensual sexual contact, predominantly perpetrated by peers. Additionally, 38.4% reported instances of sexual harassment, again with peers being the most common perpetrators. A significant association was noted between gender and sexual orientation, and the occurrence of unwanted sexual encounters, indicating a disproportionately higher impact on non-heterosexual individuals and those identifying as genders other than male. This study underscores the substantial prevalence of sexual harassment and violence within medical student communities, highlighting notable disparities based on gender and sexual orientation. These findings are particularly significant considering the inclusion of osteopathic medical students, a group often overlooked in such research. The results emphasize the urgent need for medical education reform and enforcing accountability for sexual violations. The research advocates for the development of programs and policies that support medical students affected by sexual violence and harassment, such as developing and informing students of their right to adequate, unbiased, and clear reporting processes.