A survey of women in medicine, including work-life balance issues, medical specialties, and major concerns in the practice of medicine.

The survey was published on March 20, 2004 on the MomMD website. Results for this report collected until May 31 2004 and include the answers of 504 respondents. The survey consisted of 61 questions, including 14 open-ended free text questions. The results and percentages represent the answers to the specific questions.

As with any Internet-based survey the sample is biased towards those from socio-economic groups that can afford the costs of a computer and/or internet access. The benefits of using the Internet for a survey of this type include anonymity when discussing sensitive issues and seeking out a demographic group of physicians and mothers who have busy schedules. The survey allowed them to respond at their own convenience, hence the time to answer a 61 question survey.

The following results are a sample of data analyzed so far.

GENERAL

Respondents to the survey are 98.6% female and the mean average age is 32.5. A majority of respondents described their ethnicity as white (71.46%), followed by African Americans (10.54%) and Asian (6.9%). The majority of respondents were physicians (43.72%, including resident physicians). Premedical students represent 25.1% and medical students 24.29%. Most (65.89%) respondents are married with 11.6% married or partnered with another physician. 31.79% of physicians are married to other physicians. 81.52% of respondents held an undergraduate degree. Of those with professional degrees, 47.66% held an M.D. medical degree and 4.21% a D.O. medical degree. 66.84% of respondents described their work or study as full-time.

FAMILY & CAREER

Over 60% of respondents are parents, most of which have two children. 32.04% took a 6-13 week maternity leave, with 12.32% taking less than three weeks. Of those respondents needing childcare 61.59% indicated that they used a non-family member (such as a babysitter or nanny). 64.03% of respondents are very concerned about balancing a medical career with raising a family. Although, most respondents (66.41%) indicated that their choice of career did not reduce or alter the number of children they wanted.

• Results - Demographics and Characteristics (age, status, income, debt, etc)
• Results - Medical Student and Resident Physician Related
• Results - Physician and Women in Medicine Related.
• Results - Career Satisfaction and Life Balance.