scholarly journals Work-life balance in medical students: self-care in a culture of self-sacrifice

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aled Picton
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Life Balance

Abstract Background Work-life balance is a key contributor to doctors’ wellbeing and consequently is a central factor in their career decisions. General Medical Council guidance outlines the importance of work-life balance as part of compassionate self-care. Learning self-care should begin as an undergraduate, when academic and clinical workload can contribute to stress, anxiety and burnout. Methods Sequential mixed methods study of medical students in Years 3–5 at the University of Birmingham, UK. Students (n = 145) defined work-life balance in free-text answers and self-assessed their current work-life balance via questionnaires. Following this, a sub-sample of students (n = 44) participated in exploratory individual mini-interviews. Results Work-life balance emerged as a broad and multifactorial concept. Questionnaire respondents most frequently referenced enjoyment, meeting work requirements and time management in their definitions. Interview participants highlighted additional influencing factors such as peer groups, study skills, family and professional culture. Students expect a significant shift towards work after graduating and expressed concerns about the stresses of delivering patient care. 42% (n = 60) of students felt they had received support with their work-life balance during their training, mostly from family and friends. Most students had not received support or advice on their work-life balance from University or hospital staff. Conclusion Self-care and work-life balance are essential for medical students and doctors to cope with lifelong learning and deliver effective care. Medical school staff should be pro-active in supporting students to develop these skills, particularly during critical transition periods. Early interventions targeting study skills and time management may be beneficial. Further research should include students in Years 1–2 and compare different institutions.

scholarly journals Hospital doctors and the struggle for work-life balance: the case of Ireland

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Humphries ◽  
J Creese ◽  
J-P Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Hospital Medicine ◽  
Work Life ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Work Intensity ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Hospital Doctors

Abstract Background Ireland has a high rate of doctor emigration. Difficult working conditions, particularly in the hospital sector, are often cited as a driver of doctor emigration. In October 2019, a random sample of Ireland's hospital doctors were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey about their working conditions. Methods The survey was distributed via the national Medical Register (with the assistance of the Medical Council of Ireland). Invitations were sent to 5356 hospital doctors, stratified by registration status (including interns, trainees, those not in training and consultants). An overall response rate of 20% was achieved (N = 1070). This paper focusses on responses to two free-text survey questions: (1) Do you have any other comments about your work-life balance? (N = 314). (2) Do you have any other comments on your working conditions as a hospital doctor? (N = 469). Results Respondent hospital doctors, at all levels of seniority, were struggling to achieve a balance between work and life. Of the free-text responses received, 8/10 were negative, with work-life balance/imbalance and work-overload being the issues arising most frequently. Respondents discussed how long and unpredictable working hours, combined with a high level of work intensity, meant that they often spent their personal time recovering from work. Conclusions Poor work-life balance has become normalised within Irish hospital medicine. The findings call to action to critically reflect on the sustainability of this way of working for the individual doctors, the wider workforce and the Irish health system.

British doctors’ work–life balance and home-life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2021-141338
Author(s):  
Swati Parida ◽  
Abdullah Aamir ◽  
Jahangir Alom ◽  
Tania A Rufai ◽  
Sohaib R Rufai
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Home Life

PurposeTo assess British doctors’ work–life balance, home-life satisfaction and associated barriers.Study designWe designed an online survey using Google Forms and distributed this via a closed social media group with 7031 members, exclusively run for British doctors. No identifiable data were collected and all respondents provided consent for their responses to be used anonymously. The questions covered demographic data followed by exploration of work–life balance and home-life satisfaction across a broad range of domains, including barriers thereto. Thematic analysis was performed for free-text responses.Results417 doctors completed the survey (response rate: 6%, typical for online surveys). Only 26% reported a satisfactory work–life balance; 70% of all respondents reported their work negatively affected their relationships and 87% reported their work negatively affected their hobbies. A significant proportion of respondents reported delaying major life events due to their working patterns: 52% delaying buying a home, 40% delaying marriage and 64% delaying having children. Female doctors were most likely to enter less-than-full-time working or leave their specialty. Thematic analysis revealed seven key themes from free-text responses: unsocial working, rota issues, training issues, less-than-full-time working, location, leave and childcare.ConclusionsThis study highlights the barriers to work–life balance and home-life satisfaction among British doctors, including strains on relationships and hobbies, leading to many doctors delaying certain milestones or opting to leave their training position altogether. It is imperative to address these issues to improve the well-being of British doctors and improve retention of the current workforce.

scholarly journals CANADIAN EARLY CAREER PAEDIATRICIANS ON THEIR TRANSITION TO PRACTICE EXPERIENCE

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e57-e58
Author(s):  
Anne Rowan-Legg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Transition To Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Urban Settings

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.

scholarly journals Balancing Work Life and Family Life: Problems and Remedies

Pravaha ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-232
Author(s):  
Tej Narayan Prasad Nepali
Keyword(s):  
Women Workers ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Simple Task ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Life Balance

Work- family balance” is a term that refers to an individual’s perceptions of the degree to which s/he is experiencing positive relationships between work and family roles, where the relationships are viewed as compatible and at equilibrium with each other. Like a fulcrum measuring the daily shifting weights of time and energy allocation between work and family life, the term, “workfamily balance,” provides a metaphor to countervail the historical notion that work and family relationships can often be competing, at odds, and conflicting.There was a time when the boundaries between work and home were fairly clear. Today, however, work is likely to invade our personal life — and maintaining work-life balance is no simple task. Family work balance is a complex issue that involves financial values, gender roles, career path, time management and many other factors. Every person and couple will have their own preferences and needs. The problem of maintaining a balance between work life and family life is not a new one. But in the recent few years social scientists have started paying more attention to it. Now there is growing concern in Nepal and experts are of the view that a constant struggle to balance both sets of life will have serious implications on the health of an employee.The seriousness of this problem increases many times in the cases of women workers in our society which is a traditional one and where women are still supposed to have greater family responsibilities. They are expected to look after their children, entertaining the guest, taking care of their parents, in laws and other elderly members of their families as also managing kitchen and other household affairs. Neglecting any of these responsibilities for the sake of discharging work in office or in other institutions where they are employed is not tolerated by their husbands and other male members of the society. We talk of women empowerment but we fail to understand the problems which working women are facing in the tradition bound society like of ours. The study is a pioneering work to investigate into this problem. It is a modest attempt to understand the manner in which women workers try to maintain balance between their work and family lives. The study also explores the ways and means by which female workers can be enabled to maintain proper balance between the two sets of their lives. The findings of this study may be of great use to employers, and business executives as well, who have now come to realize that the responsibility to maintain a healthy work life balance rests on both the organisation and employee. Pravaha Vol. 24, No. 1, 2018, Page: 217-232

scholarly journals 3115 Barriers and Resources in Career Development in Academic Medicine as Reported by Junior Faculty

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
Julie Schweitzer ◽  
Julie Rainwater ◽  
Rebeca Giacinto ◽  
Hendry Ton
Keyword(s):  
Time Management ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Junior Faculty ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Medical Setting ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Academic Medical

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To identify the most frequently reported barriers/constraints and resources by junior faculty in achieving their goals at a large medical school in the Western United States. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We reviewed 222 individual development plans (IDPs) from 26 departments in an academic medical center for content regarding constraints and resources to achieve activities and barriers and/or resources to achieve new goals. The content and quality of the IDPs included was ascertained using quantitative data analysis as well a review of open-ended qualitative questions. In addition to analyzing the content, the quality and percent completion of data filled out for each field in the IDP was also assessed to help identify gaps with departments in successfully completing and submitting their IDPs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Junior faculty indicated the following barriers: time/time management (55%); work/life balance (32%); funding (8%) and other (5%). Junior faculty also indicated that they had resources to help them achieve their goals, including: mentors (60%); collaborators (26%); colleagues (6%); other (8%). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The barriers in goal achievement (e.g., time/time management & work/life balance issues) at this academic medical setting suggest that further resources regarding time management and work - life balance need to be developed and disseminated in order to assist faculty in achieving their objectives. This project also reinforces the importance of having a robust mentor or mentoring team for junior faculty. Mentors and administrators should work collaboratively with junior faculty to identify resources to improve time management and work-life balance.

scholarly journals Work Life Balance in Nepalese Commercial Banks

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-125
Author(s):  
Resham Raj Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Organization Policy ◽  
Working Hour

Work life balance has always been an important issue in social sciences due to its significant influence on career choice, time management, stress management and other important aspects of day to day life of human beings. Moreover, it is universal phenomena. With this context, the study tries to explore and analyze the link between Working hour, income level and organizational support with work-life balance of employees working in selected commercial banks of Nepal. Moreover, the study seeks the necessity to formulate an apparent and specific organization policy to address work life balance in Nepalese Commercial banks.

A Perspective on Work-Life Balance and Its Determinants

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-59
Author(s):  
Sonali Bhattacharya ◽  
Netra Neelam ◽  
K. Rajagopal
Keyword(s):  
Time Management ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Familial Support ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Order Construct

With a changing demography and social structure, the work life balance (WLB) is a major concern felt by employees of most organizations. This study has attempted to have relook at the constructs of work-life balance from the perspectives of banking and information technology employees with various household structures. The present study develops a multidimensional work-life balance scale to measure existing levels of work-life balance. The scale considers work-life balance as a multidimensional second order construct comprising workplace inclusion, family support, employee benefit, time management, coworker relationship, and supervisor-subordinate relationship. The study reveals not only indicators of organizational family work culture, but also personal characteristics such as time management and familial support determine work-life balance. However, no significant difference was perceived in the work life balance was found between employees with different family structures and between the two sectors considered under the study. Also, there was no significant difference in perception of work life- balance between knowledge workers from IT and banking sectors.

scholarly journals Views of Japanese medical students on the work-life balance of female physicians

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Takahashi ◽  
Tomoni Nin ◽  
Megumi Akano ◽  
Yukiko Hasuike ◽  
Hiroko Iijima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Female Physicians ◽  
Life Balance
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