RT Journal
A1 Dyrbye LN, Freischlag J, Kaups KL, et al
T1 WOrk-home conflicts have a substantial impact on career decisions that affect the adequacy of the surgical workforce
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2012
FD October 1
VO 147
IS 10
SP 933
OP 939
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2012.835
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.835
AB Objective 
                  To evaluate factors associated with work-home conflicts (W-HCs) of US surgeons and their potential personal and professional consequences.Design 
                  Cross-sectional study.Participants 
                  Members of the American College of Surgeons.Main Outcome Measures 
                  Burnout, depression, quality of life, alcohol use, career satisfaction, and career decisions (ie, reduce work hours or leave current practice).Results 
                  Of 7197 participating surgeons, 3754 (52.5%) had experienced a W-HC in the previous 3 weeks. On multivariate analysis, hours worked per week, having children, sex, and work location (Veterans Administration or academic center) were independently associated with an increased risk for W-HC (all P < .01), while some factors (increased age and subspecialty field) reduced the risk. Surgeons with a recent W-HC were more likely to have symptoms of burnout (36.9% vs 17.1%; P < .001), depression (50.9% vs 28.1%; P < .001), alcohol abuse/dependency (17.2% vs 14.4%; P = .003), and were less likely to recommend surgery as a career option to their children (46.0% vs 54.4%; P < .001). Work-home conflicts were also independently associated with surgeons reporting a moderate or higher likelihood of planning to reduce clinical work hours (odds ratio, 1.769) and leave their current practice in the next 24 months for a reason other than retirement (odds ratio, 1.706) after controlling for other personal and professional factors.Conclusions 
                  Integrating personal and professional lives is a substantial challenge for US surgeons. Conflict in this balance appears to be a major factor in their decision to reduce work hours and/or move to a new practice, with potential substantive manpower implications for the surgical workforce.