Parenting and Childbearing in Neurosurgical Residency: Perspectives from the United States and Canada

•Significant barriers to parenting/childbearing during surgical residency persist•Lack of paid and formal leave policies are of major concern•Cultural barriers are prevalent and often underacknowledged•These include fear of inconveniencing others and avoidance in asking for help•Growing pride in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of surgical education 2023-04, Vol.80 (4), p.572-580
Main Authors: Samuel, Nardin, McQueen, Sydney A., Barnett, Randaline R., Everson, Megan C, Fiala, Clare, Lau, Ruth, Zadeh, Gelareh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Canada
childbearing
Cross-Sectional Studies
family leave policies
Female
Humans
Internship and Residency
neurosurgery
Parenting
residency
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
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Summary:•Significant barriers to parenting/childbearing during surgical residency persist•Lack of paid and formal leave policies are of major concern•Cultural barriers are prevalent and often underacknowledged•These include fear of inconveniencing others and avoidance in asking for help•Growing pride in the dual surgeon-parent identity is encouraging Despite growing interest in family planning alongside surgical training, significant barriers exist including time constraints, stigma, and lack of paid leave and formal policies. We currently lack a deep understanding of the challenges residents face and how practice cultures may prohibit successful policy enactment. To investigate residents’ perspectives surrounding parenting and childbearing during neurosurgical residency in the United States and Canada. A cross-sectional, qualitative study methodology was used, including focus groups with neurosurgical residents. Purposive sampling was employed to capture a broad range of perspectives including stage of training, geographical location, and gender. Data collection and analysis occurred in parallel, using a thematic analysis approach. Data collection continued until no new themes relating to the research questions were identified. Notable challenges included lack of formal family leave policies, time constraints, insufficient clinical human resources, physical health concerns, lack of lactation accommodations, and lack of mentorship. A subset of barriers were uncovered that stem specifically from workplace cultures, including gender norms, difficulty in asking for help, concerns for inconveniencing others, and pressures to time parental leave during research blocks. Several positive changes were identified including growing awareness and female representation, and benefits of the dual surgeon-parent identity. While parenting during neurosurgery residency is becoming increasingly common, significant practical and cultural barriers persist including a marked absence of formal policies. Culture shifts are essential in ensuring opportunities for life outside of medicine for all residents, irrespective of family status.
ISSN:1931-7204
1878-7452
DOI:10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.01.004