Toward creating family-friendly work environments in pediatrics: baseline data from pediatric department chairs and pediatric program directors.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine baseline characteristics of pediatric residency training programs and academic departments in regard to family-friendly work environments as outlined in the Report of the Task Force on Women in Pediatrics.


METHODS
We conducted Web-based anonymous surveys of 147 pediatric department chairs and 203 pediatric program directors. The chair's questionnaire asked about child care, lactation facilities, family leave policies, work-life balance, and tenure and promotion policies. The program director's questionnaire asked about family leave, parenting, work-life balance, and perceptions of "family-friendliness."


RESULTS
The response rate was 52% for program directors and 51% for chairs. Nearly 60% of chairs reported some access to child care or provided assistance locating child care; however, in half of these departments, demand almost always exceeded supply. Lactation facilities were available to breastfeeding faculty in 74% of departments, although only 57% provided access to breast pumps. A total of 78% of chairs and 90% of program directors reported written maternity leave policies with slightly fewer reporting paternity leave policies. The majority (83%) of chairs reported availability of part-time employment, whereas only 27% of program directors offered part-time residency options. Most departments offered some flexibility in promotion and tenure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although progress has been made, change still is needed in many areas in pediatric departments and training programs, including better accessibility to quality child care; improved lactation facilities for breastfeeding mothers; clear, written parental leave policies; and flexible work schedules to accommodate changing demands of family life.
McPhillips
Heather A
HA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA. heather.mcphillips@seattlechildrens.org
Burke
Ann E
AE
Sheppard
Kate
K
Pallant
Adam
A
Stapleton
F Bruder
FB
Stanton
Bonita
B
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002322:Career Mobility; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017407:Family Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States; D014931:Women, Working / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*