Resident Physician Intentions Regarding Unionization.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Labor Relations in Healthcare
• Physician Workforce Studies

Background:

• Resident physicians are crucial to frontline hospital care, constituting about 70% of patients.
• Recent years have seen a rise in unionization movements among resident physicians at major academic medical centers.
• Historically, resident physician unionization was a minority movement, but this is changing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess resident physicians' intention to unionize.
• To identify key factors influencing resident physicians' consideration of unionization.
• To understand the current landscape of resident physician unionization.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was conducted in May 2023 among resident physicians.
• The study included a cohort established over three academic years (2020-2023).
• Survey questions covered unionization status, intention to vote for a union, and influencing factors.

Main Results:

• 20% of surveyed resident physicians reported union membership at their institution.
• Among non-unionized residents, 63% indicated they would vote to unionize.
• Pay (88%) and work hours (76%) were the most cited factors for considering unionization.

Conclusions:

• A majority of resident physicians (over 70%) are either unionized or support unionization.
• Pay and financial security are primary drivers for resident physician unionization consideration.
• Further research is needed to explore other influencing factors and the impact of unionization on physician well-being and compensation.