Work week duration, work-family balance and difficulties encountered by female and male physicians Results from the French SESMAT study

摘要

France encounters specific difficulties attracting physicians to hospitals. The question of organisation at work and at home might be at the heart of the question for female as well as for male physicians. Method: A comprehensive questionnaire was prepared using established scales measuring different aspects of working conditions, satisfaction and health of salaried physicians, working mostly in hospitals. It was available online and two major associations of physicians promoted its use. 3196 physicians filled out the questionnaire. To avoid bias, a representative sample (RS) of 1924 physicians was randomly selected from the total database to match the demographic characteristics of the French physicians' population: 42.5% female, 8.2% <35 years old, 33.8% 35-44 years old, 34.5% 45-54 years old and 23.6% 55 years old and over. The distribution of physicians over the 23 administrative regions and by speciality was also respected. Results: Among the RS, Frequent intent to leave (ITL) the profession (thinking about leaving monthly or more often) was declared by 17.4% of physicians with no difference between female (FP) and male physicians (MP). According to 41.3% of female physicians, profession was an obstacle to having children (versus 19.3% for male counterparts; p<.001). Work-family conflicts (WFC) are directly linked with work week duration for female physicians (17.2% have high WFC when working less than 40 hours a week compared to 55.8% when working 50 hours or more) as well as for male physicians (respectively 22.3% and 58.5%). For female physicians, the percentage of high burnout scores (Copenhagen burnout inventory; range: 1 to 5; high=3 or over) is 31.9% for those working <35 hours per week, and rises to 48.1% among those working 35-45 hours, 46.4% for 45-50 hours and 58.2% among those working 50 hours or more.