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Women in pediatrics: the experience in Quebec
T St-Laurent-Gagnon1, R C Duval, J Lippé
1Département de pédiatrie, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Que.
Summary
Female pediatricians work fewer hours than males, influenced by family roles. This trend suggests a future need for 20% more pediatricians to maintain current workloads.
Area of Science:
- Medical practice patterns
- Pediatrics
- Gender studies in medicine
Background:
- The increasing proportion of female physicians in pediatrics necessitates understanding practice pattern differences.
- Previous research has not fully explored the specific factors influencing practice variations between male and female pediatricians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the practice patterns of female pediatricians in Quebec with their male counterparts.
- To identify specific factors, including family roles, influencing these practice patterns.
Main Methods:
- A matched cohort questionnaire survey was conducted.
- Participants included female pediatricians and matched male pediatricians across primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings in Quebec.
- Demographic, family, and practice profile data were collected from respondents.
Main Results:
- Female pediatricians were younger and managed more outpatients than male counterparts.
- Female pediatricians worked significantly fewer hours per week (40.5 vs. 48.9 hours, p < 0.001).
- Having children significantly reduced working hours for female pediatricians, unlike for males.
Conclusions:
- The dual role of female physicians as mothers and caregivers impacts their workload and must be considered.
- To maintain current workload levels with a growing female pediatrician population, a 20% increase in pediatrician numbers may be required in the next decade.