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The Landscape of Childcare Resources Among Surgeons in the United States: A Qualitative Examination
Miriam Becker1, Abbey Ervin1, Caitlyn Belza2
1From the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA.
Insights
Nearly half of surgeons experience unmet childcare needs, leading to work-family conflict and educational disruption. Addressing these systemic issues requires institutional support, such as on-site childcare and flexible policies for surgical professionals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Practice
- Work-Life Balance
Background:
- Limited childcare resources in healthcare settings contribute to work-family conflict among surgeons.
- Financial burdens associated with childcare exacerbate these challenges.
- This study investigates unmet childcare needs among surgical trainees and attendings nationwide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore surgeons' perspectives on the challenges of balancing parenthood and surgical careers.
- To identify specific unmet childcare needs within the surgical profession.
- To inform potential solutions for supporting surgeon-parents.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted.
- Semistructured interviews were used to gather data from 51 surgical trainees and attendings.
- Thematic analysis was applied to understand participants' experiences.
Main Results:
- 47.1% of respondents reported unmet childcare needs, primarily due to a lack of on-site and emergency options.
- Disparities exist in childcare reliance between men and women.
- Inadequate childcare led to educational disruption and conflict between career and family goals for most participants.
Conclusions:
- Inadequate childcare is a systemic problem impacting surgeons at all career stages.
- Recommendations include subsidized, on-site childcare with flexible hours.
- Family-friendly workplace policies and partnerships with local childcare centers are crucial.
Background:
Limited childcare resources provided by healthcare institutions and the related financial burden may be correlated with work-family conflict experienced by surgeons. This study assessed unmet childcare needs based on resources available to surgical trainees and attendings across multiple subspecialties nationally.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study using semistructured interviews to explore surgeons' perspectives on the interplay between parenthood and surgical practice. Interviews focused on topics including support systems, patient care, team dynamics, emotional resilience, and family impact. Guided by phenomenological principles and thematic analysis, team members independently reviewed and coded each transcript. Coding discrepancies were resolved through consensus discussions, ensuring that participants' experiences were accurately represented.
Results:
The sample (n = 51) included female and male trainees and attendings with and without children. A total of 47.1% of respondents indicated unmet childcare needs, with most citing a lack of on-site and emergency childcare. No men and 58% of women relied solely on daycare and/or nannies. More than twice as many men as women (67% versus 25%) relied solely on family/spouse, whereas 33% of men and 17% of women relied on a combination of paid childcare and family/spousal support. Most trainees reported educational disruption due to inadequate childcare support. Most participants reported that lack of childcare created conflict between career and family goals.
Conclusions:
Inadequate childcare resources represent a systemic issue affecting parents at all levels of training. Solutions may include subsidized, on-site childcare, with hours suited to surgeons' schedules, partnerships with local childcare centers, and family-friendly workplace policies.
