Dataset Information

Differences in Physician Income by Gender in a Multiregion Survey.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Previous studies have documented income differences between male and female physicians. However, the implications of these differences are unclear, since previous studies have lacked detailed data on the quantity and composition of work hours. We sought to identify the sources of these income differences using data from a novel survey of physician work and income. OBJECTIVE:To compare differences in income between male and female physicians. DESIGN:We estimated unadjusted income differences between male and female physicians. We then adjusted these differences for total hours worked, composition of work hours, percent of patient care time spent providing procedures, specialty, compensation type, age, years in practice, race, ethnicity, and state and practice random effects. PARTICIPANTS:We surveyed 656 physicians in 30 practices in six states and received 439 responses (67% response rate): 263 from males and 176 from females. MAIN MEASURE:Self-reported annual income. KEY RESULTS:Male physicians had significantly higher annual incomes than female physicians (mean $297,641 vs. $206,751; difference $90,890, 95% CI $27,769 to $154,011) and worked significantly more total hours (mean 2470 vs. 2074; difference 396, 95% CI 250 to 542) and more patient care hours (mean 2203 vs. 1845; difference 358, 95% CI 212 to 505) per year. Male physicians were less likely than female physicians to specialize in primary care (49.1 vs. 70.5%), but more likely to perform procedures with (33.1 vs. 15.5%) or without general anesthesia (84.3 vs. 73.1%). After adjustment, male physicians' incomes were $27,404 (95% CI $3120 to $51,688) greater than female physicians' incomes. CONCLUSIONS:Adjustment for multiple possible confounders, including the number and composition of work hours, can explain approximately 70% of unadjusted income differences between male and female physicians; 30% remains unexplained. Additional study and dedicated efforts might be necessary to identify and address the causes of these unexplained differences.

SUBMITTER: Apaydin EA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6109018 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Differences in Physician Income by Gender in a Multiregion Survey.

Apaydin Eric A EA Chen Peggy G C PGC Friedberg Mark W MW

Journal of general internal medicine 20180511 9

<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies have documented income differences between male and female physicians. However, the implications of these differences are unclear, since previous studies have lacked detailed data on the quantity and composition of work hours. We sought to identify the sources of these income differences using data from a novel survey of physician work and income.<h4>Objective</h4>To compare differences in income between male and female physicians.<h4>Design</h4>We estimated u ...[more]

PMID: 29752581

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Project description:ImportanceA better understanding of the association between family structure and sex gaps in physician earnings and hours worked over the life cycle is needed to advance policies addressing persistent sex disparities.ObjectiveTo investigate differences in earnings and hours worked for male and female physicians at various ages and family status.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study used data on physicians aged 25 to 64 years responding to the American Community Survey between 2005 and 2019.ExposuresEarned income and work hours.Main outcomes and measuresOutcomes included annual earned income, usual hours worked per week, and earnings per hour worked. Gaps in earnings and hours by sex were calculated by family status and physician age and, in some analyses, adjusted for demographic characteristics and year of survey. Data analyses were conducted between 2019 and 2022.ResultsThe sample included 95 435 physicians (35.8% female, 64.2% male, 19.8% Asian, 4.8% Black, 5.9% Hispanic, 67.3% White, and 2.2% other race or ethnicity) with a mean (SD) age of 44.4 (10.4) years. Relative to male physicians, female physicians were more likely to be single (18.8% vs 11.2%) and less likely to have children (53.3% vs 58.2%). Male-female earnings gaps grew with age and, when accumulated from age 25 to 64 years, were approximately $1.6 million for single physicians, $2.5 million for married physicians without children, and $3.1 million for physicians with children. Gaps in earnings per hour did not vary by family structure, with male physicians earning between 21.4% and 23.9% more per hour than female physicians. The male-female gap in hours worked was 0.6% for single physicians, 7.0% for married physicians without children, and 17.5% for physicians with children.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study of US physicians, marriage and children were associated with a greater earnings penalty for female physicians, primarily due to fewer hours worked relative to men. Addressing the barriers that lead to women working fewer hours could contribute to a reduction in the male-female earnings gap while helping to expand the effective physician workforce.

Project description:Physician marriage is a valuable indicator of how vocational factors (e.g. work hours, stressors) impact satisfaction in relationships and physician wellness overall. Previous studies suggest that gender and specialty influence marriage satisfaction for physicians, though these often come from limited, local, cohorts. A cross-sectional survey was designed and distributed to publicly available email addresses representing academic and private practice physician organizations across the United States, receiving 321 responses (253 complete). Responses included data on demographics, medical specialty, age at marriage, stage of training at marriage, number of children, and factors leading to marital satisfaction/distress. A multivariable ordinal logistic regression was conducted to find associations between survey variables and marriage satisfaction. Survey results indicated that 86.5% of physicians have been married (average age at first marriage was 27.8 years old), and the rate of first marriages ending is at least 14.7%. Men had significantly more children than women. Physicians married at least once averaged 1.98 children. "Other" specialty physicians had significantly more children on average than psychiatrists. Marrying before medical school predicted practicing in private practice settings. Job stress, work hours, children, and sex were most frequently sources of marital distress, while strong communication, finances, and children were most frequently sources of marital stability. Sex differences were also found in distressing and stabilizing marital factors: Female physicians were more likely to cite their spouse's work hours and job stress as sources of marital distress. Finally, surgery specialty and Judaism were associated with higher marriage satisfaction, whereas possession of an M.D. degree was associated with lower marriage satisfaction. This study elucidated new perspectives on physician marriage and families based on specialty, practice setting, and stage of training at marriage. Future studies may focus on factors mediating specialty and sex's impact on having children and marriage satisfaction. To our knowledge, this study is the first physician marriage survey which integrates multiple factors in the analysis of physician marriages.

Project description:ImportanceWomen are underrepresented at higher ranks in academic medicine. However, the factors contributing to this disparity have not been fully elucidated. Implicit bias and unconscious mental attitudes toward a person or group may be factors. Although academic medical centers use physician trainee evaluations of faculty to inform promotion decisions, little is known about gender bias in these evaluations. To date, no studies have examined narrative evaluations of medical faculty by physician trainees for differences based on gender.ObjectiveTo characterize gender-associated linguistic differences in narrative evaluations of medical faculty written by physician trainees.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study included all faculty teaching evaluations completed for the department of medicine faculty by medical students, residents, and fellows at a large academic center in Pennsylvania from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016. Data analysis was performed from June 1, 2018, through July 31, 2018.Main outcomes and measuresWord use in faculty evaluations was quantified using automated text mining by converting free-text comments into unique 1- and 2-word phrases. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations of faculty gender with frequencies of specific words and phrases present in a physician trainee evaluation.ResultsA total of 7326 unique evaluations were collected for 521 faculty (325 men [62.4%] and 196 women [37.6%]). The individual words art (odds ratio [OR], 7.78; 95% CI, 1.01-59.89), trials (OR, 4.43; 95% CI, 1.34-14.69), master (OR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.69-10.63), and humor (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.44-3.73) were significantly associated with evaluations of male faculty, whereas the words empathetic (OR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.56-12.07), delight (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.35-13.40), and warm (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.83-6.49) were significantly associated with evaluations of female faculty. Two-word phrases associated with male faculty evaluations included run rounds (OR, 7.78; 95% CI, 1.01-59.84), big picture (OR, 7.15; 95% CI, 1.68-30.42), and master clinician (OR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.21-13.36), whereas evaluations of female faculty were more likely to be associated with model physician (OR, 7.75; 95% CI, 1.70-35.39), just right (OR, 6.97; 95% CI, 1.51-32.30), and attention (to) detail (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.36-13.40).Conclusions and relevanceThe data showed quantifiable linguistic differences between free-text comments about male and female faculty in physician trainee evaluations. Further evaluation of these differences, particularly in association with ongoing gender disparities in faculty promotion and retention, may be warranted.

Project description:BackgroundAlcohol drinking among adolescents is associated with their health development. However, the prevalence of alcohol drinking among adolescents in Southwestern China remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking, with a particular focus on gender differences, among primary and middle school students in Zigong, a city in Southwestern China. Additionally, we examined the association between alcohol consumption and demographic and family factors.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a city in Southwestern China, encompassing a total of 89 360 students from 132 different ordinary schools, including both primary and middle schools. Participants were recruited through cluster sampling. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption was employed to assess alcohol consumption. Gender differences in the prevalence of alcohol drinkers across various schools and grades were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with hazardous drinking.ResultsOut of the 89 360 participants, 19.0% reported alcohol drinking, with 2.1% classified as hazardous drinkers. There was a higher prevalence of alcohol drinking among boys compared with girls, as well as hazardous drinking. There were significant gender disparities in alcohol drinking observed across various schools and grade levels. A notable divergence between boys and girls was observed starting from grade 10, with a rising prevalence of hazardous drinking among boys and a decline among girls. Additionally, older age, male gender and being left-behind children were identified as risk factors for hazardous drinking, while belonging to a nuclear family and having parents who do not drink were protective factors against hazardous drinking.ConclusionsAlcohol consumption is prevalent among Chinese adolescents, with some even classified as hazardous drinkers. These findings may offer valuable insights for policymakers and caregivers, guiding them in formulating appropriate interventions and support strategies.

Dataset Information

Differences in Physician Income by Gender in a Multiregion Survey.

Publications

Differences in Physician Income by Gender in a Multiregion Survey.

Similar Datasets

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