Job-sharing in paediatric training in Australia: availability and trainee perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the current availability of job-sharing in paediatric training hospitals in Australia and to evaluate job-sharing from the trainees' perspective.


METHODS
National survey with structured telephone interviews and postal questionnai res.


METHODS
The eight major paediatric training hospitals in Australia.


METHODS
Directors of Paediatric Physician Training (DPPTs) at each hospital (or a staff member nominated by them) provided information by phone interview regarding job-sharing. All paediatric trainees who job-shared in 1998 (n=34) were sent written questionnaires, of which 25 were returned.


RESULTS
Hospitals differed in terms of whether a trainee was required to give a reason for wishing to job-share, and what reasons were acceptable. One hospital stated that two specialty units (Intensive Care and Neonatal Intensive Care) were excluded from job-sharing, and another stated that certain units were unlikely to be allocated job-sharers. The remaining six hospitals said that all units were available for job-sharing, but the majority of their trainees disagreed. Only one hospital had a cap on the number of job-share positions available yearly. Trainees perceived benefits of job-sharing to include decreased tiredness, increased enthusiasm for work, and the ability to strike a balance between training and other aspects of life. Trainees believed job-sharing did not adversely affect the quality of service provided to patients, and that part-time training was not of lower quality than full-time training.


CONCLUSIONS
Job-sharing in Australian paediatric training hospitals varies in terms of the number of positions available, eligibility criteria, and which units are available for job-sharing. In our survey, trainees' experience of job-sharing was overwhelmingly positive.
Whitelaw
C M
CM
Department of General Peadiatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.
Nash
M C
MC
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology