The Future of Pediatric Surgery—Women and Part Time?

Abstract

Working conditions are changing rapidly in medicine. We analyzed the actual work situation and future plans in the next 5 years and in the long term. A survey among the members of the German Society of Pediatric Surgery was performed asking how and where physicians work now and how and where they want to work in the future. Five hundred twelve questionnaires were sent out, and 195 colleagues answered the questionnaire (99 women, 94 men, and 2 of unknown gender). Among them, 27% were trainees, 16% were fully trained pediatric surgeons, 6% were senior physicians, and 50% were consultants, while 66% worked full time, 25% worked part time, and 8% did not work in pediatric surgery. In the future, 49% of consultants and 24% of the trainees wanted to work part time. Among the 73 participants who wanted to become a department head, 33% of them also wanted to work part time. Pediatric surgery is changing toward a discipline with many female doctors and people working part time. Leaders in pediatric surgery should be aware of this development to adapt their working conditions to reality.