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March 1, 2026BMC Medical EducationOpen Access

Sexual harassment at German medical schools – a national cross-sectional study

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Authors

MFMichelle FörstelMVMaximilian VogtSDSabine Drossard

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Overview

Cross-sectional survey reveals high rates of sexual harassment in medical education, indicating urgent need for preventive measures.

Key Points

  • This research aims to provide nationwide data on the prevalence and consequences of sexual harassment among medical students in Germany.
  • Cross-sectional online survey distributed via the German Medical Students’ Association to medical students across Germany.
  • Questionnaire defined sexual harassment and covered personal experiences and witnessed incidents across eight thematic areas.
  • Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression models.
  • 42.1% of medical students reported experiencing sexual harassment, with rates increasing through medical training stages.
  • 73.5% of final-year women and 29.3% of men reported incidents during their studies.
  • Most common perpetrators: patients (93.8%), fellow students (69.2%), and senior physicians (64.1%).
  • Surgical disciplines had the highest harassment rates (64.9%); 46.0% of affected students said harassment influenced their specialty choice.

Cite This Study

Förstel et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a3d79dec16d51705d2de04https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-08890-9
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