Factors Affecting Physician Exit and Reentry into Medicine

This survey study investigates the factors contributing to physicians taking time off from clinical medicine and the challenges of reentry.

This qualitative study used an online survey conducted from February to July 2023. The survey was e-mailed to physicians (Doctors of Medicine and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board via listserv and University of North Carolina School of Medicine alumni through the alumni newsletter.

A total of 858 physicians (58.0% women, 10.1% Asian, 6.4% Black, 5.0% Hispanic, and 77.0% White; 84.4% with children) responded to at least one of the research questions relating to time off. Questions included demographic information, work-related information, and family-related characteristics. Of those surveyed, 22.6% of the female physicians and 19.7% of the male physicians had taken more than 3 months away from clinical medicine. The most commonly reported factor for taking time away from clinical practice was children (38.5%). Women were more likely than men to take time off for family-related reasons (P < 0.001), whereas men were more likely to take time off for career-related reasons (P < 0.001). In total, 87.8% of physicians reported reentering clinical medicine after time away, and 65% of the physicians who reentered after 1 year and 43% who reentered in less than 1 year reported that the process was moderately difficult to difficult.

Physicians exit clinical medicine for a variety of reasons. Our study showed a significant gender difference in motivation for taking time off. Female physicians were more likely to cite reasons relating to the care of children and family responsibilities, whereas male physicians were more likely to cite career-related factors. Most physicians surveyed were able to reenter medicine after time off, but more than 50% found the process challenging.