Experience shows us that there are a few sure-fire ways to get a doctor talking. One, ask for their opinion on EHRs. Two, ask for their ideas on how to improve the healthcare system. And three, ask them to tell you a crazy patient story.
But if you want to make a doctor clam up, a new study suggests that you should ask them about work-life balance.
Perhaps the most interesting data point is the response to this statement: “Female physicians who have children fall behind in the promotion process.” Female doctors rated this slightly over 4 and the men, about 3.5.
Physician-parents now must balance the demands of their careers, with the demands of home (made more stressful by added childcare burdens, remote learning, and new safety concerns).
The data showed that among the 953 parents, women were more likely to “have turned down a project,” due to parenting commitments.
It highlights gender disparity, showing that family concerns may affect female physicians more than male physicians.