Previously submitted to: JMIR Mental Health (no longer under consideration since Apr 04, 2018)
Date Submitted: Sep 19, 2017
Open Peer Review Period: Sep 19, 2017 - Apr 4, 2018
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Burnout and workplace needs of physician mothers: A cross-sectional online survey of 5,782 physician mothers
Background:
Burnout among physicians has reached an all-time high, with serious consequences for patient care, physician safety, and the healthcare system.
Objective:
Our goal was to examine burnout and career satisfaction in physician mothers. We were particularly interested in how burnout was associated with understudied factors relevant to mothers, including fertility, pregnancy, caregiving duties, and gender-based discrimination.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional online survey of the members of the Physician Mothers Group (PMG) which is an online private Facebook group of over 60,000 female physicians who are mothers. This survey was distributed in June and July 2016. Measurements included self-reported burnout, career satisfaction, history of discrimination, reproductive and physical health, caregiver status, desired workplace changes.
Results:
Of the estimated 16,059 PMG members who viewed the survey post, 5,782 completed the survey (estimated participation rate 36%, or 16% of active members). Overall, 40%(N=2208) of respondents reported burnout, with 38.2% being mothers. Burnout was related to higher work hours, discrimination, history of depression or anxiety, medical mistakes, and being a caregiver for a severely ill friend or family member. Burnout was more common in those who work in emergency medicine or family medicine, or practice in military and public hospitals, with 45.2%, 46.9%, 52.4%, and 46.2% of physicians reporting burnout, respectively. The most highly valued workplace changes reported by physician mothers included flexibility in working schedules, option to not work on weekends or overnight, and higher pay. In addition, administrative support including scribes and protected time for charting were common workplace change suggestions.
Conclusions:
Burnout is common, especially among certain subgroups of physician mothers. Approaches to reducing burnout among physician mothers may include supporting more flexible workplace structures, addressing gender discrimination, and providing additional support for those with caregiver responsibilities.
ClinicalTrial:
N/A
Citation
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