The Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Fiberoptic Intubation Performance

V.K.V. American Hospital, Istanbul51 enrolled

Overview

Gender bias and stereotypes have been recognized as pervasive factors influencing various aspects of society, including professional settings. Within the realm of medical practice, understanding the potential impacts of such biases on performance is of paramount importance. Anesthesiology, a field that demands technical precision, teamwork, and rapid decision-making, is not immune to the potential effects of gender stereotypes on performance outcomes. This study aims to explore the potential influence of gender stereotype manipulation and stereotype threat on the fiber-optic intubation (FOE) performance of female anesthesiology residents. Stereotype threat refers to the apprehension individuals experience when their actions or abilities are evaluated within the context of negative stereotypes associated with their social group. Such threat has been shown to adversely affect cognitive and motor performance in various domains. In medical education, where skills are honed through training, understanding the role of stereotype threat is crucial to fostering equitable learning environments and ensuring patient safety.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Stereotype-threat Intubation; Difficult or Failed

Interventions

stereotype threat manipulationBEHAVIORAL

Stereotype threat is the thought that a person will be negatively evaluated and judged regarding a negative stereotype that belongs to the group to which he/ she belongs. Stereotype threat manipulation will be performed on the male and female participants in the experimental group just before they are taken into the testing room. For manipulation, the following sentences will be said to the participants in the experimental group: "We aim to compare fiberoptic intubation performance between male and female anesthesiologists. Additionally, we are investigating whether the high inclination of males towards computer games has any impact on their fiberoptic intubation success." The other participants (Control Group) will not be given any prior information.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1.Residents in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, who have completed their initial year of residency and have prior experience in FOE. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Not meeting the above criteria 2. Not willing to participate in the study

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Fİberoptic Intubation (FOE) Performance

Change in FOE scores in the experimental group compared to the control group. Measurements were conducted on the ORSIM Bronchoscopy simulator using its own measurement parameters, including Task Completion Time (s), Collision Avoidance (%), and Final Score (min 0-100). A decrease in task completion time, an increase in collision avoidance percentage, and a higher final score indicate that the participant performed fiberoptic intubation more effectively.

Time frame: During FOE simulation