A profile of female family physicians

One hundred and thirty-five women family physicians were surveyed to obtain a profile of their lifestyles, practice patterns, and stresses. The majority were married (81%), with a large percentage (45%) married to physicians. Fifty-three percent had children and assumed the major responsibility for domestic organization. Most (97%) were working; of these 60% were working full-time. Over half (63%) had interrupted their careers, usually for maternity leave (79%) with a relatively short absence (average 12.3 weeks). Most reported good to excellent health over their lifetime. Overall, medicine was viewed very positively, with most (88%) reporting a high level of confidence in their career choice. However, conflict between career and family needs was identified as a major area of stress. Results are compared with those found in other demographic studies of female physicians. To date, no comparable survey of family physicians exists.