Most pediatricians satisfied with professional responsibilities

(HealthDay)—Overall, most pediatricians report that their allocation of professional time is in accordance with what they want, according to a study published online March 22 in Pediatrics.

Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues sent a self-administered survey to all pediatricians at the time of their enrollment in the Maintenance of Certification program in 2013 to 2014 (response rate, 87.2 percent; 15,351 physicians). The authors explored trends associated with career choice, career paths, time spent in professional activities, and current practice characteristics.

The researchers found that 64 percent of those who completed the survey self-identified as general pediatricians. The likelihood of working part time was increased for women (odds ratio [OR], 12.21), those without an academic appointment (OR, 1.32), and those not working in a private/independent practice (OR, 1.15). Eighty-nine percent of respondents reported that their current allocation of professional time approximated what they wanted. The likelihood of being involved in quality improvement in the past year was increased for those who did not work in independent/private practices and for those who worked full time (ORs, 1.78 and 1.16, respectively).

"Understanding the current nature of the pediatric workforce is a first step in providing data to guide future workforce planning and the training experiences required to maintain and shape the workforce to meet the current and future needs of children," the authors write.