[Family-Friendly Working Conditions in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine: Challenges and Perspectives from a...

Achieving a work-life balance is a central issue for many physicians when choosing a specialty. Women in particular often feel compelled to choose between career and family, which frequently leads to setbacks in their professional advancement. In pediatrics, the proportion of women is especially high; however, there is little data on the compatibility of parenthood and professional life in this field.An anonymous web-based survey was conducted using a questionnaire adapted from other postgraduate medical training surveys. The survey ran from March 15 to May 1, 2023, and was aimed at physicians in pediatric postgraduate training. The results were analyzed statistically using GraphPad Prism and through qualitative content analysis.A total of 652 out of 4,160 invited individuals participated in the survey (16%). The results showed that women with children were less likely to pursue senior positions or self-employment compared to childless women or men. Instead, they more often preferred employed positions in outpatient practices. Part-time work, for both women and men, was perceived to be a disadvantage in career development, due to a lack of continuity, supervision, and acceptance from superiors.The survey highlights the urgent need for more flexible working hours, predictable schedules, and fewer overtime demands in order to better balance work and family life. The results emphasize the importance of making pediatrics a more family-friendly specialty. Key measures include flexible work models, on-site childcare, and proper recognition of actual hours worked during training, also for those on part-time contracts. Mentoring and support programs could further encourage women to pursue careers as senior physicians or in private practice, despite family obligations.