Abstract
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is the national professional paediatric organization representing over 3000 child and youth health care providers. As future leaders, early career paediatricians (ECP, defined as those in their first 5 years of practice) are highly valued CPS members, and facilitating their active engagement is a key organizational priority. ECPs comprise 15% of the current CPS membership, and previous analysis has shown that this group’s membership rate drops by nearly one-third in the first 5 years of practice. This lack of engagement may be due in part to the intense amount of activity on multiple fronts during the transition to independent practice. We sought to better identify and understand these challenges, and determine how the CPS might better support this period of a paediatrician’s professional life.
OBJECTIVES
To better characterize the demographics of ECPs in Canada; to identify the challenges of transition to independent paediatric practice, and to inform future CPS initiatives to support them.
DESIGN/METHODS
Following iterative discussion, we created a 23-question survey with either closed-ended or free text responses. It was distributed, in English and French, via e-mail link to 481 Canadian ECPs across the country in September 2017. This group included both general and subspecialty paediatricians who had qualified for their Royal College certification in 2011 or later. Survey information was obtained by an online electronic tool (Survey Monkey). All responses remained confidential. Responses were collated, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
The survey response rate was 42% (200/481). 172/407 answered the English questionnaire, and 28/74 answered the French questionnaire. 68% self-identified as general paediatricians and 21% as subspecialists. Nearly three-quarters work in urban settings, with 35% at an academic/tertiary hospital. ECPs spend most of their working hours in a clinical setting (mean 80%), with less time in research and administration/leadership domains. Most (78%) were satisfied with their practice type and setting. Three-quarters reported good work-life balance. Identified challenges during the transition to practice included: financial and billing management; learning institutional processes and available resources; and achieving work-life balance. One third reported difficulty with continuing professional development.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that ECPs are more likely to be practising in urban settings and at academic centres. They describe some common challenges with transition to practice and would like the CPS to provide more practice management resources, mentorship, and career counseling. As a result, there is a clear opportunity for CPS to engage them in the organization, support their transition to practice, and offer accessible continuing professional education.
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