[How junior doctors live their work during pregnancy? A qualitative study in France]

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Psychology

Background:

• Medical residents experience significant stress and burnout, with literature reviews indicating rates as high as 33.2% between 2004-2014.
• Pregnancy and motherhood involve substantial physical and psychological transformations.
• The demanding nature of medical residency often conflicts with the changes associated with pregnancy and early motherhood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and feelings of female residents regarding pregnancy and motherhood during their medical training.
• To identify the perceived consequences of combining residency with motherhood.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews.
• Grounded theory methodology was utilized for data collection and analysis.
• Continuous thematization was applied for data analysis, achieving saturation by the 8th interview out of 10.

Main Results:

• Interviews with ten female residents across diverse medical specialties were conducted.
• Two primary themes emerged: challenges related to work (training, professional relationships, job adaptation) and challenges related to pregnancy and maternity.
• Residents expressed significant feelings regarding the impact of pregnancy and motherhood on their residency.

Conclusions:

• Motherhood during residency introduces considerable challenges for female physicians.
• Successful integration requires mutual adjustments from residents and their healthcare teams.
• Strategies are necessary to minimize adverse effects on residents' professional development and personal well-being.