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Where have they gone? - a discussion on the balancing act of female doctors between work and family.

ABSTRACT: GOALS: The increasing number of vacant positions for doctors increasingly puts the issue of reconciling work and family into the spotlight in companies, hospitals and universities, as increased expectations of a better work-life balance are seen as one of the reasons for these vacancies. Highly qualified professionals are trained, but not available to the labour market. The aim is to summarise what difficulties doctors who want to have a family and their potential employers must face. METHODS: The following articles show the current state of research and potential starting points for an optimisation of the medical profession from a family-friendly perspective and intend to stimulate debate. RESULTS: Some basic steps towards better work-life balance have already been taken, such as the provision of childcare places and the increasing availability of more flexible working patterns. But it seems that these measures, since they have been implemented neither sufficiently nor universally, do not suffice to secure the next generation of staff. Especially women in leadership positions are still rare to find. CONCLUSIONS: Both male and female doctors want better quality of life by achieving a better work-life balance. The expansion of family-friendly services is seen as a necessary step to allow female doctors to successfully combine work and family.

SUBMITTER: Jerg-Bretzke L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3339702 | biostudies-other | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Where have they gone? - a discussion on the balancing act of female doctors between work and family.

Jerg-Bretzke Lucia L Limbrecht Kerstin K

GMS Zeitschrift fur medizinische Ausbildung 20120423 2

<h4>Goals</h4>The increasing number of vacant positions for doctors increasingly puts the issue of reconciling work and family into the spotlight in companies, hospitals and universities, as increased expectations of a better work-life balance are seen as one of the reasons for these vacancies. Highly qualified professionals are trained, but not available to the labour market. The aim is to summarise what difficulties doctors who want to have a family and their potential employers must face.<h4> ...[more]

PMID: 22558025

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Project description:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease worldwide, affected by both genetics and environment. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) stands as an independent environmental risk factor that precipitates the onset of hepatic steatosis and accelerates its progression to severe stages of liver damage. Furthermore, the coexistence of T2D and NAFLD magnifies the risk of cardiovascular disease synergistically. However, the association between genetic susceptibility and metabolic risk factors in NAFLD remains incompletely understood. The glucokinase regulator gene (GCKR), responsible for encoding the glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP), acts as a regulator and protector of the glucose-metabolizing enzyme glucokinase (GK) in the liver. Two common variants (rs1260326 and rs780094) within the GCKR gene have been associated with a lower risk for T2D but a higher risk for NAFLD. Recent studies underscore that T2D presence significantly amplifies the effect of the GCKR gene, thereby increasing the risk of NASH and fibrosis in NAFLD patients. In this review, we focus on the critical roles of GKRP in T2D and NAFLD, drawing upon insights from genetic and biological studies. Notably, prior attempts at drug development targeting GK with glucokinase activators (GKAs) have shown potential risks of augmented plasma triglycerides or NAFLD. Conversely, overexpression of GKRP in diabetic rats improved glucose tolerance without causing NAFLD, suggesting the crucial regulatory role of GKRP in maintaining hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism balance. Collectively, this review sheds new light on the complex interaction between genes and environment in NAFLD, focusing on the GCKR gene. By integrating evidence from genetics, biology, and drug development, we reassess the therapeutic potential of targeting GK or GKRP for metabolic disease treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that selectively activating GK or enhancing GK-GKRP binding may represent a holistic strategy for restoring glucose and lipid metabolic balance.

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Dataset Information

Where have they gone? - a discussion on the balancing act of female doctors between work and family.

Publications

Where have they gone? - a discussion on the balancing act of female doctors between work and family.

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