Pregnancy and parental leave among plastic surgery residents in Canada: a nationwide survey of attitudes and experiences

Abstract

Pregnancy and parental leave among plastic surgery residents in Canada: a nationwide survey of attitudes and experiences O n average, following the completion of a surgical residency, exiting trainees in Canada are 33.2 years of age. 1 The average age at which mothers in Canada had their first child was 29.2 years in 2016. 2 Therefore, residents who hope to start a family may consider pregnancy dur ing their training. However, surgical residents are in an undesirable position to start a family because of their long work hours, the physically demanding nature of their work, specific occupational hazards and less flexibility in resi dency rotation scheduling. 3 A survey of members and candidates of the Amer ican Society of Plastic Surgeons found that 72.6% of women and 39.2% of men delayed having children because of the demands of training. 4 As there is an increased risk of both maternal and fetal complications related to deferred childbirth, especially after age 35, many plastic surgery graduates may find themselves conflicted between the demands of a professional career and par enting priorities. 5 With only 26 new trainees starting plastic surgery residencies each year in Canada, it can be challenging for small surgical programs like plastic surgery to accommodate parental leave. Starting a family during residency can be compli cated and situationally dependent, and it is important to understand the impact of the environment on this life event by investigating the experiences of resi dents and recent graduates across Canada. This study aimed to report the experiences, attitudes and perceived support of Canadian plastic surgery resi dents and surgeons with respect to pregnancy and parenting during training.

Parental-leave policies and perceptions of pregnancy during surgical residency training in North America: a scoping review

“… 32 Therefore, despite the available financial support, not all residents participate in the full period of parental leave for which they are eligible. 33 Of those surveyed by Augustine and colleagues, 33 92% of residents and 86% of staff surgeons who gave birth to a child took maternity leave. 33 However, among male respondents, 24% of residents and 33% of staff surgeons fathered a child during residency and only 50% of residents and no staff surgeons took parental leave.…”

Best practices for the pregnant neurosurgical resident: balancing safety and education

“…In fact, negative perceptions regarding pregnancy during training are not unique to neurosurgery and exist worldwide among both residents and residency program directors. [41][42][43] Barriers to addressing these concerns fall into several categories: stigma associated with pregnancy and the impact on colleagues, lack of policy and financial support regarding parental leave, and postpartum challenges including lactation and childcare needs.…”

Are Psychiatry Programs Providing Adequate Parental Leave to Their Residents?

“…Residents may not be aware of their options if policies are not readily available, and medical students applying for residency training may feel uncertain about asking about such policies for fear of negative ramifications in the selection process. Previous surveys about parental leave indicate that confusion exists because of lack of standardization and open discussion [ 11 ].…”

“…Parental leave policies are not uniform in psychiatry residency and fellowship programs in the USA and are variably disseminated. The lack of uniformity and transparency creates challenges for residents and applicants as they [11].…”

“…In one survey, program directors reported confusion about the rules presented for parental leave policies for residents [ 10 ]. Such lack of clarity results in institutions having varying policies and in applicant and resident confusion about options when planning parental leave [ 11 ].…”