Family-building patterns of proceduralist and non-proceduralist physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Physician well-being
• Reproductive health

Background:

• Limited understanding exists regarding family-building patterns and childcare habits among procedural versus non-procedural physicians.
• This study addresses this gap by comparing these aspects between physician groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine differences in infertility risk, family-building patterns, and childcare habits between procedural and non-procedural physicians.
• To identify variations in the utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART) between these groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 2519 physicians (excluding medical students) on demographics, family-building, and childcare.
• Specialties were categorized as procedural or non-procedural based on existing literature.
• Primary outcomes included infertility rates and ART utilization; secondary outcomes covered family-building and childcare.

Main Results:

• Infertility prevalence was similar between procedural (26.8%) and non-procedural (26.5%) physicians.
• Proceduralists showed higher ART utilization (27.2% vs. 22.6%) and were more likely to have children during residency.
• Proceduralists favored nannies (50.2%) for childcare, while non-proceduralists preferred daycare (60.8%).

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in family-building patterns and ART use between procedural and non-procedural physicians.
• These disparities underscore the necessity for enhanced family-friendly policies, particularly for those in demanding procedural specialties.
• Supporting physicians in their desire to have children requires targeted institutional strategies.