The opinion and response of health professionals associated with academics about the research design and methods: A study

Current perceptions and working time models of female urologists in Germany: results of a large-scale survey

PURPOSE

Female urologists are distinctly underrepresented in leading positions. The reasons behind this inequity remain unclear, with some suggesting factors such as family responsibilities, part-time work and insufficient mentorship. This study aimed to explore and characterize the working conditions of female urologists in Germany, with a focus on factors influencing the working time model.

METHODS

A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 1343 female members of the German Society of Urology between February and March 2022. The survey consisted of 43 questions covering the categories demographics, occupation situation, satisfaction at work, family situation, career aspects and research activity.

RESULTS

Of the 487 female German urologists who participated in the survey, 167 (34.3%) worked part-time. Doctors in training were significantly less likely to work part-time than colleagues who had completed their specialist training (p < 0.001). Only 10% of female doctors in training reported working part-time. Similarly, having children (p < 0.001) and engaging in scientific activities (p = 0.03) were independent factors influencing part-time work, with children increasing the likelihood of working part-time as expected, while scientifically active female urologists were more likely to work full-time.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the largest survey on the situation of female urologists in German-speaking countries to date. Part-time work during specialist training is rare, while more than 50% of female urologists with children work part-time. With the projected decline in the number of practicing physicians and the increasing demand for medical attention, it is crucial to find ways to retain and support healthcare professionals, particularly female urologists.

Do Physicians Prefer to Complete Online or Mail Surveys? Findings From a National Longitudinal Survey

Survey response rates for physicians are falling generally, and surveys of physicians tend to have lower response rates than those of the general population. To maximize response, respondents are often given a choice of modes in which to respond. The aim of this article is to describe mode response patterns and identify factors related to physicians’ decisions to complete surveys online rather than by mail. The data are from the fifth annual wave of the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life longitudinal survey of physicians, in which there was a 43.5% response rate (10,746/24,711) and 33.7% of respondents completed the survey online. Online completion was more likely when the physician had completed the survey online in the previous wave, was a general practitioner rather than other medical specialist or doctor-in-training, worked in a remote location, and was young and male. Free-text spontaneous comments from respondents indicated that mode choice was based on a combination of preference, previous experience, and feasibility. These results provide support for the use of mixed mode survey designs, which can accommodate doctors with different mode preferences and cast doubt over the possibility of tailoring mode based on respondent characteristics.