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Pediatrician job satisfaction reliant on lifestyle, family ahead of income
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A majority of general pediatricians reported the most important factor in choosing their first job was lifestyle, spousal or familal considerations, according to survey data.
In addition, more than two-thirds of surveyed pediatricians reported that their current jobs were consistent with their career goals.
“Given an increasingly mobile society and the growth of two-profession families, the duties and responsibilities these physicians desire in their first job following residency may be different from what they plan to seek later in their careers,” Gary L. Freed, MD, MPH, from the department of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan, and colleagues wrote. “Additionally, the unique gender distribution in pediatrics makes it imperative that the field focus on whether available positions align with the overall goals and career aspirations of both women and men.”
To obtain information regarding about pediatrician trends linked to career choice, career paths, time spent in professional activities, Freed and colleagues distributed a questionnaire to general pediatricians (n=1,190) taking the 2012 General Pediatrics Certifying Examination.
“There are frequent concerns about whether new physicians are being matched with positions that meet their career ambitions, and we found that for pediatricians, the news is quite good,” Freed said in a press release. “The vast majority, over 80%, of new pediatricians were very satisfied with their first jobs after completing residency and how it matches with their future plans.”
According to survey results:
- 69% of new pediatricians reported that lifestyle and family considerations were the most important considerations for their intial job, a response that was more common among women but significantly associated with more than half of men.
- 9% reported that debt at the end of training was the most important factor in initial job selection.
- 2% noted that earning potential was the most significant factor in initial job selection.
- A larger ratio of women (19%) vs. men (7%) planned to work part-time at some point in the next five years.
- New female general pediatricians were just as unlikely as new male general pediatricians (3%) to pursue careers focused on research.
“It’s important to look at whether first jobs lined up with career goals in order to understand what leads to job and career satisfaction for the new generation of pediatricians and to help us identify future workforce and training needs,” Freed said in the release.
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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