TRENDS IN PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT AMONG PEDIATRICIANS  Karen G. O'Connor, William L. Cull, Sharp Sanford.. Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL.  Presented at the 2007 Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting.

Background: Pediatricians' interest in part-time (PT) employment is well documented; earlier studies suggest there would be growing numbers of part-time arrangements.

Objective: Track trends in PT work among pediatricians from 1993 to 2006.

Design/Methods: As part of the Periodic Survey of Fellows, national random samples of members of the American Academy of Pediatrics were surveyed regarding PT work status at four points: 1993 (N=1616, response rate=71%), 2000 (N=1602, RR=52%), 2003 (N=1612, RR=63%), and 2006 (N=1622, RR=63%). Analyses were limited to nonretired post-trainee pediatricians.

Results: The proportion of pediatricians practicing PT increased from 11% in 1993 to 23% in 2006 (p<. 001), a 109% relative increase over 13 years. During this time the number of female pediatricians increased 56%. Across all survey years combined, 30% of women work PT vs. 5% of men (p<.001). While more women than men report working PT in each year, PT work has increased among men as well.

Patient care hours among all pediatricians decreased 5 hours per week from 40 in 1993 to 35 in 2006 (p<.001); however, patient care hours per week among PT pediatricians has remained similar across time (p=.546). Among full-time (FT) pediatricians in 2006, men work more patient care hours per week than women (42 v 39, p<.05), however, PT men and PT women work a similar number of patient care hours per week (27 v 26). In 2006, younger pediatricians are more likely to work PT: 31% of pediatricians aged <39y and 28% of those 40-49y compared to 18% of 50-59y and 17% of those >60y (p<.05). Practice location, percent time in general pediatrics and patient insurance source are similar for those working FT and PT in 2006.

Conclusions: Interest in PT employment, especially among women, continues to grow. Because pediatrics has the largest percentage of women among medical specialties, the effect of this trend on the future pediatric workforce needs to be monitored.