Where is your lactation room? Lactation policies and practices in oncology trainee and early career physicians.

Abstract

11054 Background: Training and early career years coincide with childbearing and raising young families, which places increased demands on new parents. With increasing numbers of female oncologists in the workforce, there is a need to assess and amend current workplace lactation policies. We surveyed Medical and Radiation Oncology trainees and early career faculty to assess policies and practices regarding lactation during training and early career. Methods: An anonymous 48 question cross-sectional survey developed by researchers with expertise in gender equity was distributed via email and social media channels between May and June 2021 to oncology trainees and physicians within 5 years of terminal training; program directors (PDs) were surveyed separately. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Of the 255 complete responses, 26% (65) respondents breastfed for any length of time upon return to work. Of these, 54% (35) were trainees and 46% (30) early career faculty. 69% (45) had access to a designated lactation room; however, 57% (37) noted that duration of their pumping breaks was inadequate to access and use the lactation room. Most (60%, 39) did not feel comfortable asking for protected time to pump. Employment contracts did not specifically include pumping breaks for 66% (43), while 34% (22) were unsure about their contract policies surrounding lactation. Of all breastfeeding mothers, 77% (50) felt their colleagues to be supportive of their needs; a minority reported negative responses due to pumping breaks from faculty (11%), co-fellows/colleagues (8%) and clinic staff (15%). 51% (33) bought a wearable pump prior to return to work, of which 70% (23) found it financially burdensome. Most common reasons for buying a wearable pump were to improve efficiency during work hours (61%, 20) and lack of adequate pumping breaks (39%, 13). Among 23 PDs who responded to the survey, 65% (15) had a program policy regarding lactating trainees, 9% (2) blocked clinic appointments to allow pumping breaks, 91% (21) provided lactation rooms, 83% (19) reported the lactation rooms are easily accessible. Conclusions: Both infrastructure and time accommodations made for the lactating parent are inadequate. There is a disconnect between the trainee and PDs’ perception of provided accommodations. Systemic changes that provide adequate time and space for lactation to busy clinicians and trainees is imperative to ensure retention of women oncologists in the workforce.