Parental leave policy information during residency interviews.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gastroenterology Training

Background:

• Medical students often feel hesitant to inquire about crucial topics like parental leave during interviews.
• Accessing parental leave policies can be challenging for applicants without direct inquiry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if parental leave information is shared with prospective residents.
• To assess medical students' desire for this information.

Main Methods:

• Surveys were distributed to 52 program directors and 373 medical students across three institutions.
• Statistical analyses, including Fisher exact tests and Pearson chi-squared tests, were employed to evaluate response differences.

Main Results:

• Only 27 program directors responded, with 19 (70%) stating parental leave information is not provided.
• A significant majority of medical students (92%) want this information formally presented.
• Most students (68%) anticipate discomfort asking about parental leave, and 61% consider it a factor in program ranking.

Conclusions:

• Parental leave policies are frequently unavailable to medical residents during the interview process.
• Despite a strong student interest and the policies' impact on program selection, information is not readily accessible.