Female family physicians in obstetrics: achieving personal balance.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the experiences of female family physicians who practise obstetrics in balancing professional obligations with personal and family needs, given the unique challenges that such practice poses for these physicians.


METHODS
Qualitative study.


METHODS
Ontario.


METHODS
A purposefully selected sample of nine female family physicians who met the criteria of being married, having children and currently practising obstetrics.


METHODS
Experiences of female family physicians and their strategies in their personal, family and professional lives that enable them to continue practising obstetrics.


RESULTS
All participants continued to practise obstetrics because of the pleasure they derived from it, despite the challenges of balancing the unpredictable demands of obstetrics with their personal and family needs. To continue in obstetrics, they needed to make changes in their lives, either through a gradual, evolutionary process or in response to a critical event. Alterations to work and family arrangements permitted them to meet the challenges and led to increased satisfaction. Changes included making supportive call-group arrangements, limiting work hours and the number of births attended and securing help with household duties.


CONCLUSIONS
An in-depth examination, through the use of qualitative methods, showed the reasons why some female family physicians continue to practise obstetrics despite the stressful aspects of doing so. This knowledge may be useful for women who are residents or experienced clinicians and who are considering including obstetrics in their practice.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009774:Obstetrics; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload