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Association Between Parental Leave and Ophthalmology Resident Physician Performance
Dana D Huh1, Jiangxia Wang2, Michael J Fliotsos1
1Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
JAMA Ophthalmology
|September 29, 2022
Summary
Ophthalmology residents who took parental leave showed no difference in performance metrics compared to their peers. These findings suggest parental leave does not negatively impact resident training or career progression.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Ophthalmology
- Graduate Medical Training
Background:
- Parental leave is crucial for resident well-being and workplace inclusivity.
- Residents may hesitate to use parental leave due to stigma and concerns about training impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze parental leave usage across multiple institutions.
- To compare residency performance metrics between residents who took parental leave and those who did not.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of educational records from 10 US ophthalmology programs (2015-2019 graduates).
- Compared performance metrics including Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) scores, ACGME milestones, board pass rates, research, and surgical volumes.
Main Results:
- 15.5% of residents took parental leave (median 4.5 weeks).
- No significant differences in OKAP scores, research, milestones, or surgical volume were found between groups.
- Residents pursuing fellowship were less likely to take leave; those entering private practice were more likely.
Conclusions:
- Parental leave does not adversely affect ophthalmology resident performance metrics on average.
- Findings can reassure trainees and program directors about the compatibility of parental leave with successful residency training.
