GRADUATING RESIDENTS SHOW STRONG INTEREST IN PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
William L. Cull, Gretchen L. Caspary, Lynn M. Olson.. Dept of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL.

BACKGROUND: Pediatrics is at the forefront of medicine regarding the number of physicians working part-time.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the number of pediatric residents seeking part-time employment upon graduation over the last three years and to examine the difficulty of their job search compared to residents seeking full-time employment.

DESIGN/METHODS: As part of the AAP Graduating Resident Survey, national random samples of 500 graduating categorical pediatrics residents were surveyed from 2003 through 2005. Responses were pooled to examine resident interest in and experience with part-time employment. Up to 4 mailings were conducted between May and August of each year. Totals of 308 (62%), 307 (61%), and 281 (56%) residents completed the survey in 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively. Analyses focused on residents who applied for non-fellowship jobs.

RESULTS: Totals of 66%, 69%, and 68% of residents applied for non-fellowship jobs in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Of those who applied for these jobs, the percentage applying for part-time positions was 36% in 2003, 40% in 2004, and 36% in 2005. The percentage actually accepting a part-time position was 19% in 2003, 26% in 2004, and 25% in 2005. Across all survey years, the average starting salary for those accepting a part-time job was roughly $30,000 less than those working full-time ($71,221 part-time vs $100,264 full-time, p <.001). Residents seeking part-time employment were more likely to report that their spouse/partner's career plan or family situation limited their selection of positions (75% part-time vs 56% full-time, p < .001). Those who applied for part-time positions were more likely to report moderate or considerable job search difficulty (37% part-time vs 25% full-time, p = .014). This increased job-search difficulty for residents seeking part-time positions (OR = 1.71, p = .036) remained in multivariate logistic regression analyses that adjusted for other factors including gender, program size, international medical graduate status, under-represented minority status, marital status, having children, and survey year.

CONCLUSIONS: About 4 out of 10 graduating pediatric residents seek part-time employment upon graduation. These residents are more likely to experience job search difficulty, but many are successfully arranging part-time positions. Strong interest in part-time positions is likely to continue, and this important trend needs to be monitored.