Barriers to Parental Leave During Training: Time for Change

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110318
Author(s):  
Ian C. Bostock ◽  
Erin M. Bayley ◽  
Mara B. Antonoff

Background Standardized parental leave policies for medical trainees are lacking, and barriers may differ among specialties. We aimed to characterize experiences of physicians who became parents during training and to identify particular issues for surgical trainees compared to their non-surgical peers. Methods We distributed an electronic survey to physician parents via social media platforms from 10/2019 to 02/2020. Inclusion required becoming a parent during training. Responses were collected and standard descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Results Surveys were received from 64 physicians representing diverse specialties: 48 (74%) non-surgical respondents (NSR) and 16 (26%) surgical respondents (SR). Among all respondents, 25 (39%) reported a formal institutional policy for parental leave and 49 (76%) wished for more time off. Overall, respondents took a mean of 7.5 ± 5.2 (range 0-14) weeks of parental leave. However, NSR took 8.7 ± 5.8 weeks, while SR took 4.7 ± 2.7 ( P = .006). Reported barriers to parental leave across specialties included graduation requirements (NSR 58% vs. SR 68% P = .46), peer pressure/perception (NSR 59% vs. SR 58% P = .97), and pressure from institutional leadership (NSR 31% vs. SR 35% P = .77). A substantial portion (28, 43%) of respondents had additional children during training, taking less time off for the second child (5.1 ± 7.4 weeks; 0-12). Conclusion A minority of respondents reported formal institutional parental leave policies, while an overwhelming majority felt that their time off was inadequate. Surgical trainees took shorter parental leaves than their non-surgical counterparts. Cultural and professional changes are crucial in promoting wellness and healthy transitions into parenthood.

BJS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Joshua Clements

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dynamic changes to healthcare delivery. Surgery as a specialty has been significantly affected and with that the delivery of surgical training. Method This national, collaborative, cross sectional study comprising 13 surgical trainee associations distributed a pan surgical specialty survey on the COVID-19 impact on surgical training over a 4-week period (11th May - 8th June 2020). The survey was voluntary and open to medical students and surgical trainees of all specialties and training grades. All aspects of training were qualitatively assessed. This study was reported according to STROBE guidelines. Results 810 completed responses were analysed. (M401: F 390) with representation from all deaneries and training grades. 41% of respondents (n = 301) were redeployed with 74% (n = 223) redeployed > 4 weeks. Complete loss of training was reported in elective operating (69.5% n = 474), outpatient activity (67.3%, n = 457), Elective endoscopy (69.5% n = 246) with > 50% reduction in training time reported in emergency operating (48%, n = 326) and completion of work-based assessments (WBA) (46%, n = 309). 81% (n = 551) reported course cancellations and departmental and regional teaching programmes were cancelled without rescheduling in 58% and 60% of cases respectively. A perceived lack of Elective operative exposure and completions of WBA’s were the primary reported factor affecting potential training progression. Overall, > 50% of trainees (n = 377) felt they would not meet the competencies required for that training period. Conclusion This study has demonstrated a perceived negative impact on numerous aspects of surgical training affecting all training specialties and grades.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Burke ◽  
P Balfe

Abstract Introduction The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented unforeseen threats and stresses to healthcare systems around the world, most notably in the ability to provide critical care. Aim To assess surgical NCHD experience in providing critical care and working in an intensive care environment. Method An electronic survey was distributed amongst surgical trainees and then amongst individual surgical departments. Ten questions were included in the survey assessing the NCHD’s experience with aspects of critical care. Results 39 respondents including 16 specialist registrars, 3 senior registrars, 11 registrars and 9 senior house officers. 18% of respondents had previous experience in anaesthetics or intensive care. 23% self-reported being competent in performing endotracheal intubation. 15% self-reported being competent in the use of CPAP and BiPaP, 5% did not know what these were. 20% self-reported being competent in the use of AIRVO. 15% self-reported being competent in placing central and arterial lines. 15% self-reported being competent in starting and adjusting inotropes/vasopressors. 49% reported completing a CCRISP or BASIC course. 85% felt that a rotation in anaesthesia should be a routine part of surgical training. Conclusions Whilst there is critical care experience amongst the surgical NCHD cohort there remains room for further development.


BJS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Pascoe ◽  
Paul Foster ◽  
Muntasha Quddus ◽  
Angeliki Kosti ◽  
Francesca Guest ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction SMILE is a free online access medical education (FOAMEd) platform created by two UK surgical trainees and a medical student that delivered over 200 medical lectures during lockdown. Method The role of Social Media in the development of SMILE was interrogated using a survey sent to all SMILE participants and by analysing activity on SMILE social media platforms. Results 1306 students responded to the online survey with 57.2% saying they heard of SMILE through Facebook. Engagement using facebook remained highest with 13,819 members, over 800 user comments and >16,000 user reactions. 4% of the students heard of SMILE through Twitter or Instagram. Facebook analytics revealed the highest level of traffic when lectures were most commonly held suggesting students used Facebook to access lectures. Other educators were able to find SMILE on social media, leading to collaborations with other platforms. Throughout the survey many mentioned how social media created and maintained a community of medical students enhancing group-based learning Conclusions We demonstrate that social media platforms provide popular and cost-effective methods to promote, sustain & deliver medical education for students and educators.


Social Forces ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 398-423
Author(s):  
Trude Lappegård ◽  
Tom Kornstad

Abstract We argue that father involvement at the societal level influences women’s fertility decisions. If father involvement becomes a social norm, it provides expectations about shared parenthood and father involvement in care for young children, making it easier to realize childbearing plans. We test our theoretical assumption using administrative register data from Norway covering 25 years of exposure to a social policy aiming at fathers becoming more involved in childcare and an equal division of labor within the family. Hazard model regression analyses including macro indicators of father involvement reveal that father engagement – in the sense that fathers are visible in the community being on parental leave – is positively associated with women becoming mothers and one-child mothers’ transition to second birth, but the effect is strongest for the second birth. Simulation experiments show that in a scenario where no fathers take parental leave, only 63 percent of all women have a second child, while in the scenario where almost all fathers take leave, as many as 74 percent of all women will do so. In many low fertility countries, women often stop at one child. Our results suggest that in such societies that are concerned about low fertility, policies that encourage father involvement could be a valuable investment.


Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise A. Taylor ◽  
Gina M. Nicholls ◽  
Andrea D.J. Taylor

Social prescribing is increasingly viewed as a non-pharmacological option to address psychosocial consequences of social isolation, loneliness and bereavement; key contributors to poor mental health and wellbeing. Our study explored experiences and attitudes of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to social prescribing in England, Scotland, and Wales, using an on-line survey. (Ethical approval, University of Bath, November 2017). The electronic survey was distributed to pharmacists registered with Royal Pharmaceutical Society local practice forum network groups in England, Scotland, and Wales, and pharmacy technicians via social media platforms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and free text by thematic analysis. One hundred and twenty respondents took part in the survey; (94.6% pharmacists and 5.4% pharmacy technicians). Responses indicated a lack of knowledge and experience with social prescribing; however, there was enthusiasm for pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team to be involved in local social prescribing pathways. Respondents believed they were well positioned within the community and consequently able to be involved in identifying individuals that may benefit. Barriers to involvement, included time, funding and training while enablers were pharmacist skills and the need within the community for social prescribing. There is a willingness in pharmacy, to be involved in social prescribing, however further research is required to enable pharmacy to be full participants in social prescribing pathways.


Author(s):  
Patricia Maria Saez Carlin

Work-family conciliation is currently in vogue. However, reality demonstrates that there is still a long way to go before being forced to make a choice between work, family, or personal life. Can a balance be achieved among the three? In relation to the medical profession, is there currently an adequate conciliation policy? Can these strategies be extrapolated to the training period? The proposal in this chapter consists in carrying out an up-to-date analysis on the parental leave situation during medical training as one of the main aspects of conciliation, by analysing parental leave policies and barriers faced by surgical trainees.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Zentz

Abstract In this article I operationalize the term “virtue signaling”, a term generally pejoratively used towards people’s assertions of values on social media platforms, as “moral-political stancetaking”, an activity that is actually quite common on- and offline and that works to exert peer pressure toward onlookers and addressees so that they will adopt certain values. Using analytical frameworks of small stories and stance, I examine a narrative sequence from one political activist, demonstrating how she situates long-term aspects of her biography in relation to present moral-political crises in order to make assertions that culminate in the construction of a moral-political framework for the progressive grassroots organizations that she leads. Through this analysis I assert that the notion of virtue signaling, while new to the social media era, fits well within repertoires of communicative behavior that long pre-date the rise of social media.


Author(s):  
Sarina Cho ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Helen Heacock

Background: Globally 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted every year equating to approximately 750 billion US dollars (1). In Canada it has been estimated that $31 billion of food is wasted annually (2). This amount can easily be used to feed hundreds of thousands of undernourished people across the world. Food wastage can occur at every level of the food supply chain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the food waste generated by residents of British Columbia, Canada. The study aimed to identify the general knowledge regarding food waste and ugly produce, the attitudes of the public towards food waste, and the general practices of waste disposal. Methods: A self-administered electronic survey created on Survey Monkey Canada was distributed on various social media platforms over a two-week period in January 2020. The survey contained questions that resulted in a score for knowledge of food waste, attitude towards food waste and the waste reduction practices of British Columbian residents. Chi square and correlational analyses were performed using the statistical package NCSS. Results: 96 respondents met the inclusion criteria and completed the survey. Many participants received a medium score for knowledge (N=67) and possessed a positive attitude (N=71) towards food waste. There was an even distribution between good and fair practice level (N=49 and N=46). There was no association between level of food waste knowledge and demographic categories except for age (p=0.025). Younger participants were less knowledgeable. Between practice and demographic variables, no statistically significant associations were found. The results for attitude were determined to be non-statistically significant for age, gender and experience working in the food industry while there was a statistically significant association between attitude and an individual’s education level (p = 0.008). Those with higher levels of education had a more positive attitude. No correlation was determined between knowledge and practice indicating that there is no influence of knowledge on practice and vice versa. The study found that there is a positive correlation (p = 0.0004 and r = 0.3542) between attitude and practice indicating that these two variables influence each other. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the population in B.C. who responded to the survey has adequate knowledge, a positive attitude and moderate practice behaviours regarding food waste. Younger individuals were less knowledgeable about food waste and the more educated one is, the more positive their attitude towards food is. The study also indicated that positive attitudes translated into better practice. These results are only a starting point in determining the causes for food loss and waste in B.C as it reveals the need for more local initiatives to bring everyone to start adopting food waste reduction strategies.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1 (39)) ◽  
pp. 102-119
Author(s):  
PARTHASARATHI ◽  
Grishma KUMARI

Online social movements have taken root and flourished in the last decade due to online communication networks attributed to Social media. In this paper, the mixed-method approach is utilized for qualita- tive and quantitative analysis to investigate the efficacy of social media in propounding the outcome of online social movements in India. Further, several factors which have a definite impact on the outcomes of such online social movements are highlighted. This study concludes that online social media campaigns can be viewed as an extension of ‘social norms media campaigns’. Further, it establishes that the internet penetration in India coupled with ‘online peer pressure’ accompanying such movements has ef- fectively aroused the consciousness of users towards such campaigns. It also highlights the alteration in the process of diffusion of ideas in society due to the advent of social media platforms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter de Haan ◽  
Janneke Plantenga

Saving for prior times. The Dutch life course scheme and the balance between work and care Saving for prior times. The Dutch life course scheme and the balance between work and care This research note focuses on the contribution of the new Dutch life course scheme to the reconciliation of work and private life. It appears that an average worker has to save approximately 3% of their net income, for a period of 9 years, in order to finance a period of part-time parental leave for 10 month. Given the fact that the savings are not transferable, it seems impossible to finance a second period of level by the same parent, for example after the birth of a second child. It also appears that taking leave is relatively expensive in comparison to the use of child care services. The life course scheme does not guarantee a right to leave beyond the statutory rights either. The conclusion therefore should be that the life course scheme only offers limited support when it comes to the reconciliation of work and care. The strong elements of this 'saving for care' system, allowing for diversity and personal responsibility, seem only useful if the life course scheme is offered in addition to and as a supplement of a collective arrangement.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document