Abstract
OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to determine the personal and professional characteristics, and the physical, psychiatric/psychological, and professional issues that exist among master's-, doctoral-, and post-doctoral-level health professionals.METHODS:A cross-sectional, online, self-reported survey of 452 postgraduates who completed master's, doctoral, or post-doctoral degrees in one graduate program in pediatrics in São Paulo, Brazil, was conducted.RESULTS:The response rate was 47% (211/453). The majority of participants were women (78%) and physicians (74%), and the median age was 47 years (28-71). Master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral degrees were reported by 73%, 53%, and 3%, respectively. High workload (>40 hours/week) occurred in 59%, and 45% earned ≥15 minimum wages/month. At least one participation in scientific meeting in the past year was reported by 91%, and 79% had published their research. Thirty-nine percent served as a member of a faculty of an institution of higher learning. The data were analyzed by two age groups: participants aged ≤48 years (group 1) and participants aged >48 years (group 2). The median rating of overall satisfaction with the profession in the past year [8 (0-10) vs. 9 (1-10), p=0.0113]; workload >40 hours/week (53% vs. 68%, p=0.034); and ≥15 minimum wages/month (37% vs. 56%, p=0.0083) were significantly lower in group 1. Further analysis by gender revealed that the median rating of overall satisfaction with the profession in the past year [8 (0-10) vs. 9 (3-10), p=0.0015], workload >40 hours/week (53% vs. 83%, p=0.0002), and ≥15 minimum wages/month (37% vs. 74%, p=0.0001) were significantly lower in women compared with men. The median rating of overall satisfaction with the mentorship supervision provided was significantly higher among the women 10 (5-10) vs. 10 (2-10), p=0.0324].CONCLUSIONS:The majority of master's-, doctoral-, and post-doctoral-level health professionals were women and physicians, and had published their thesis. Younger postgraduates and women reported low salaries, less likelihood of working >40 hours/week, and less overall satisfaction with their profession. Further longitudinal and qualitative studies are warranted to assess career trajectories after graduation.
Highlights
Contemporary teaching methods, humanistic approaches to patient care, and early exposure to scientific research are common in undergraduate, fellowship, residency, and postgraduate programs [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
The majority of postgraduates (65%) had worked as public service professionals within the past year, followed by those who worked as private practice pediatricians (50%), and those who worked as public/private university professors (20%)
The median rating of overall satisfaction with one’s profession in the past year was significantly lower in women compared with men [8 (0-10) vs. 9 [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10], p=0.0015], and women were significantly less likely to have a workload 440 hours/week (53% vs. 83%, p=0.0002), earn X15 minimum wages/month (37% vs. 74%, p=0.0001), and work long hours (38% vs. 55%, p=0.045), and were significantly more likely to be paid a low salary (35% vs. 19%, p=0.0496) (Table 4)
Summary
Contemporary teaching methods, humanistic approaches to patient care, and early exposure to scientific research are common in undergraduate, fellowship, residency, and postgraduate programs [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Received for publication on June 10, 2019. Accepted for publication on August 27, 2019. The university is responsible for educating a significant portion of the country’s master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral students [15]. The Pediatric Department at the university has a master’s/ doctoral and post-doctoral program, which is responsible for epidemiological, translational, and clinical research in children and adolescent health, focusing on primary, secondary, and tertiary care; subspecialties; and transplantation. The program includes professors and students and involves physicians and non-physicians (e.g., physiotherapists, dietitians, nurses, physical educators, biomedicals, and dentists)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
