TY - JOUR
T1 - Perception of Shame in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Training
AU - McMains, Kevin Christopher
AU - Peel, Jennifer
AU - Weitzel, Erik K.
AU - Der-Torossian, Hirak
AU - Couch, Marion
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Objective This survey was developed to assess the prevalence and effects of the perception of shame in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency training in the United States. Study Design Survey. Setting US otolaryngology training programs. Subjects Faculty and trainees in US otolaryngology training programs. Methods A 14-item survey to assess the prevalence of the experience of shame and the attitudes toward use of shame in otolaryngology residency training was sent to all otolaryngology-head and neck surgery program directors for distribution among their respective faculty and resident cohorts. Results A total of 267 responses were received (women, 24.7%; men, 75.3%): 42.7% of respondents were trainees; 7.0% of trainees thought that shame was a necessary/effective tool, compared with 11.4% of faculty; 50% of respondents felt that they had been personally shamed during residency; and 69.9% of respondents had witnessed another trainee being shamed during residency training. Trainees were most commonly shamed in the operating room (78.4%). Otolaryngology faculty members did the shaming 95.1% of the time. Although shaming prompted internal reflection/self-improvement in 57.4% of trainees, it also caused loss of self-confidence in 52.5%. Trainees who had been shamed were more likely to view shame as an appropriate educational tool (P <.05). Conclusion Half of respondents have felt shamed during their residency training, and a majority has witnessed a colleague being shamed. Understanding the negative impact that shaming behaviors have on the learning environment and on the performance of the individual within it is an important first step in creating an environment maximally conducive to learning, professional development, and patient safety.
AB - Objective This survey was developed to assess the prevalence and effects of the perception of shame in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency training in the United States. Study Design Survey. Setting US otolaryngology training programs. Subjects Faculty and trainees in US otolaryngology training programs. Methods A 14-item survey to assess the prevalence of the experience of shame and the attitudes toward use of shame in otolaryngology residency training was sent to all otolaryngology-head and neck surgery program directors for distribution among their respective faculty and resident cohorts. Results A total of 267 responses were received (women, 24.7%; men, 75.3%): 42.7% of respondents were trainees; 7.0% of trainees thought that shame was a necessary/effective tool, compared with 11.4% of faculty; 50% of respondents felt that they had been personally shamed during residency; and 69.9% of respondents had witnessed another trainee being shamed during residency training. Trainees were most commonly shamed in the operating room (78.4%). Otolaryngology faculty members did the shaming 95.1% of the time. Although shaming prompted internal reflection/self-improvement in 57.4% of trainees, it also caused loss of self-confidence in 52.5%. Trainees who had been shamed were more likely to view shame as an appropriate educational tool (P <.05). Conclusion Half of respondents have felt shamed during their residency training, and a majority has witnessed a colleague being shamed. Understanding the negative impact that shaming behaviors have on the learning environment and on the performance of the individual within it is an important first step in creating an environment maximally conducive to learning, professional development, and patient safety.
KW - education
KW - environment of learning
KW - faculty
KW - otolaryngology
KW - teaching
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U2 - 10.1177/0194599815598288
DO - 10.1177/0194599815598288
M3 - Article
C2 - 26243025
AN - SCOPUS:84946034286
VL - 153
SP - 786
EP - 790
JO - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
JF - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
SN - 0194-5998
IS - 5
ER -