Physicians are working fewer hours, with the average hours worked per week by physicians falling 7.6% between 2001 and 2021. However, physicians who are mothers are not seeing the same relief, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers from Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health all collaborated on the analysis.
Male physicians, including fathers, full-time physicians and younger physicians are typically working fewer hours today compared to 20 years ago. Physician mothers are the exception, researchers found, and they are the only group to increase weekly working hours, rising 3% over 20 years.
Researchers uncovered the workplace findings using a survey of physicians from 17,599 unique households across the United States, from which they examined trends in weekly work hours among physicians compared to nurse practitioners, physician assistants and non-physician holders of doctoral degrees. They also assessed work hours among subgroups of physicians, such as by age and parental status.
Over the 20-year study period, the physician workforce grew 32.9%. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the workforce fell 6.7%, though those who left the workforce were disproportionately white and from rural areas.
Overall, work hours increased 7% over the study, which is less than half of the 16.6% population growth over the same timeframe. However, the lack of productivity among physicians was made up for by large increases in the work hours contributed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
“A reduction in work hours suggests a trend of physicians prioritizing work-life balance to a greater degree,” Anna Goldman, MD, lead author, general internist at Boston Medical Center, and assistant professor of medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, said in a statement. “Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are playing a critical role in filling in the gap created by decreasing work hours and physician workforce losses during the pandemic, alleviating some of the provider access issues patients may encounter.”
The findings about physicians who are mothers has mixed implications, such as potentially indicating gender parity progress for career engagement. Though the higher number of hours could also lead to faster rates of burnout.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."