title: Comparison of lifestyle and practice patterns between male and female Canadian ophthalmologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify sex differences in lifestyle and practice patterns of Canadian ophthalmologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based national survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 48-item questionnaire was sent electronically. Analysis of results was completed using χ(2) and Fisher's exact tests where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 385 respondents (30%), 102 were female and 283 male. Several statistically significant differences exist in lifestyle and practice patterns. Fifty-one percent of females operate less than 2 days per month as compared with 36% of males (p = 0.01) despite similar clinical hours. No statistically significant differences were found in other practice pattern parameters including laser refractive surgery, hospital affiliation, university appointment/rank, and number of peer-review publications. Ninety percent of males and 81% of females report having ≥1 children, but males report greater number of children (p < 0.001). Females are commonly the primary caregiver, whereas males report their partner as primary caregiver (p < 0.001). Fifty-two percent of females are unhappy with the amount of parental leave (p < 0.001). Fifty-one percent of females believe that childbearing slowed or markedly slowed career progress, as compared with 15% of males (p < 0.001). Both female (83%) and male (87%) ophthalmologists report high career satisfaction (p = 0.43).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in practice patterns between males and females in our analysis surround surgical time, with no difference seen in other practice patterns or academic achievements. Differences in family patterns surround household and childrearing duties. Despite differences, both males and females report high satisfaction across several professional and personal parameters. Compared with previous studies, this suggests a change in practice patterns over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McAlister
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braga-Mele
authors.affiliation: Médecine-Département d'Ophtalmologie et d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie-Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Université Laval, Quebec City, Que.
authors.forename: Beatrice F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: DesMarchais
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ont.. Electronic address: y.buys@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Yvonne M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Buys
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016524:Parental Leave; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D000078329:Workforce