Giving 200%: Workplace Flexibility and Provider Distress Among Female Physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical Professionalism
• Physician Well-being
• Workplace Equity

Background:

• Female physicians report higher burnout and lower work-life integration satisfaction than male counterparts.
• Addressing burnout and turnover is critical due to projected physician shortages.
• Resident physicians are a key demographic for workforce pipeline strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess childcare access and difficulties for female physician parents.
• Examine the link between provider distress and workplace flexibility.
• Compare workplace flexibility and parental resources between resident and non-resident physicians.

Main Methods:

• 839 female medical providers completed electronic surveys.
• Descriptive, correlational, and linear regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• Only 7.2% had workplace daycare, though 76.0% desired it.
• Provider distress and burnout correlated negatively with perceived workplace support.
• Supportive factors included parental leave, breastfeeding accommodations, job flexibility, and time for personal/professional development.

Conclusions:

• Workplace flexibility and parental support significantly impact female physician well-being and job satisfaction.
• Implementing childcare facilities may enhance physician retention and attraction.
• Further research should investigate the impact of organizational childcare provision on physician recruitment and retention.