Dataset Information

Impact of AOA status and perceived lifestyle on career choices of medical school graduates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Based upon student ratings of such factors as predictable work hours and personal time, medical specialties have been identified as lifestyle friendly, intermediate, or unfriendly. Lifestyle friendly programs may be more desirable, more competitive, and for students elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society, more attainable.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether AOA students increasingly entered lifestyle friendly residency programs and whether trends in program selection differed between AOA and non-AOA graduates.

Design

This retrospective cohort study examined PGY-2 data from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the 12 allopathic schools in the Associated Medical Schools of New York.

Participants

Data on 1987-2006 graduates from participating schools were evaluated.

Main measures

Residency program selection over the 20-year period served as the main outcome measure.

Key results

AOA graduates increasingly entered lifestyle-friendly residencies--from 12.9% in 1987 to 32.6% in 2006 (p?ConclusionsWhile lifestyle factors appear to influence residency program selection, AOA graduates differentially were more likely to either choose or attain certain competitive, lifestyle-friendly specialties. Health care reform should be targeted to improve lifestyle and decrease income disparities for specialties needed to meet health manpower needs.

SUBMITTER: Grayson MS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3235601 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Impact of AOA status and perceived lifestyle on career choices of medical school graduates.

Grayson Martha S MS Newton Dale A DA Patrick Patricia A PA Smith Lawrence L

Journal of general internal medicine 20110812 12

<h4>Background</h4>Based upon student ratings of such factors as predictable work hours and personal time, medical specialties have been identified as lifestyle friendly, intermediate, or unfriendly. Lifestyle friendly programs may be more desirable, more competitive, and for students elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society, more attainable.<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of this study was to evaluate whether AOA students increasingly entered lifestyle friendly residency pro ...[more]

PMID: 21837375

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Project description:IntroductionGendered differences in career paths of medical graduates persist globally. We aim to explore the impact of domestic tethers on the career paths of physicians by studying gendered differences in domestic burdens of physicians as well as differences in perceptions around the impact of domestic work on professional advancement.MethodsA web-based survey including 38 questions was sent to all 3866 physician alumni of the top academic medical school in Lebanon. Data was collected between November 2018 and January 2019, with up to three invite reminders. Overall, 382 were included in the final analysis, 124 women (32%), 258 men (68%).ResultsThe study had a response rate of 10.4%. Findings show that a greater percentage of men were married and had children (77.5% vs 62.1%, p = 0.004, 77.9% vs 51.6%, <0.001, respectively). Majority of both women and men held full-time positions (82.1% and 87.1%), having children however reduced the odds significantly [OR = 0.2, 95% CI: (0.1-0.6), p = 0.01]for women, while only older age reduced it for men (OR = 0.1,95% CI: (0.04-0.2), p<0.001]. Among full-time physicians, men and women spent similar time on professional activities (60.2hrs/wk vs 58.3hrs/wk, p = 0.32). Women spent more time on parenting and household work (23.5hrs/wk vs 10.4hrs/wk, <0.001; 8.9hrs/wk vs 6.0hrs/wk, p = 0.001, respectively). Women physicians' spouses contributed to 14.5 hours/week of total time on domestic activities whereas men physicians' spouses spent two folds more time on domestic activities (35.0 hours/week, P<0.001). Of physicians with children, a higher percentage of women than men reported that children prevented their career advancement or their participation in development opportunities (43.8% vs 15.9%, p<0.001; 50.0% vs 19.4%, p<0.001, respectively). A greater percentage of women than men scaled back their career after first child (31.3% vs 3.5%, <0.001). Of married/partnered physicians, fewer women than men reported their career took priority over their partner's when conflicts arose, (52.0% vs 86.0%, p<0.001).ConclusionThese findings highlight the heavier impact of domestic tethers on the career paths of women physicians than men physicians. Men are more likely than women to hold full-time positions in the early advancement defining phases of their careers. Full-time women shoulder more domestic work than men and experience more professional advancement concessions. Closing persistent gender gaps in medicine requires addressing inequities in domestic burdens through strategies that include mentorship on domestic tethers, support of on-site child-care and advocacy for parental leave policies that encourage shared care-work.

Dataset Information

Impact of AOA status and perceived lifestyle on career choices of medical school graduates.

Background

Objective

Design

Participants

Main measures

Key results

Publications

Impact of AOA status and perceived lifestyle on career choices of medical school graduates.

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