Exploring professional experiences and career insights: A survey of pediatric hospitalists

In medicine, professional experiences and work environment can impact physician satisfaction and well-being. Little is known about these experiences in pediatric hospital medicine.

The objective of this study was to examine self-reported factors associated with professional experience, career development, and career satisfaction, and to compare aspects of these domains between men and women.

This was a cross-sectional survey study of 1096 pediatric hospitalists performed in 2021. Our survey tool included novel and previously published questions. Responses were collected via an online survey platform and summarized using descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and measures of central tendency. A multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between variables and career satisfaction.

Five hundred and sixty-five respondents (52.3% response rate) completed the survey with 70.6% women. Over three-quarters (77.4%) reported career satisfaction, and 71.9% would choose Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) again. Work-life balance was positively associated with career satisfaction, while perception of gender-specific bias decreased career satisfaction. Satisfaction with mentoring was reported by 88% of respondents with a mentor. Positive aspects of professional experience included peer relationships and support. However, 29.7% experienced gender discrimination, 26.5% were treated with disrespect by colleagues, and 40% perceived gender biases in the professional environment-women more than men on most measures.

Satisfaction with career, peer relationships, and mentoring was high; however, opportunities to improve the professional experience exist, including addressing potential mentorship gaps and discrimination. This study adds insights into career satisfaction in PHM.