Volume 214 - Issue 11
Motherhood and medicine: systematic review of the experiences of mothers who are doctors
Authors: Rebekah Hoffman, Judy Mullan and Andrew D Bonney
Med J Aust 2021; 214 (11): 533-533.e1. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51093
Published online: 21 June 2021
Published online: 21 June 2021
In reply
In reply: We agree with Wootton and Forrest that parental leave and a wider cultural shift concerning the care responsibilities of the mother are the key to ensuring women are able to succeed in the tightrope balance of a career and children. However, there are policy changes that are needed to reflect best evidence to ensure that maternity or paternity leave supports the best interest of the child and the family,1 not only the workplace.
Specialties that have been previously perceived as family‐friendly, such as general practice,2 are seeing an increase in community demand for more doctors, coinciding with a decline in trainee numbers.3 While research demonstrates that, internationally, family‐friendly workplaces are attractive and drive a greater number of trainee applicants and trainee retention,4 a review of the current workplace policies in general practice is needed to examine a potential sustainable and effective workforce solution. Beyond this, further research is essential, and needs to be targeted and achievable, examining what Australian medical families and doctors who are parents see as barriers and supports into this balance and then what policy changes are needed to support them and their workplace.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- World Health Organization. Maternity leave legislation in support of breastfeeding: case studies around the world (Nov 2019). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-NMH-NHD-19.25 (viewed Aug 2020).
- Le Floch B, Bastiaens H, Le Reste JY, et al. Which positive factors give general practitioners job satisfaction and make general practice a rewarding career? A European multicentric qualitative research by the European general practice research network. BMC Family Practice 2019; 20: 96.
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. General practice: health of the nation 2018. Melbourne: RACGP; 2018. http://www.racgp.org.au/download/Documents/Publications/Health-of-the-Nation-2018-Report.pdf (cited Sept 2020).
- Hoffman R, Mullan J, Ngyuen M, Bonney A. Motherhood and medicine: Systematic review of the experiences of mothers who are doctors. Med J Aust 2020; 213: 329–334. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/213/7/motherhood-and-medicine-systematic-review-experiences-mothers-who-are-doctors
Linked content
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MJA Systematic Review: Motherhood and medicine: systematic review of the experiences of mothers who are doctors
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MJA Letter: Motherhood and medicine: systematic review of the experiences of mothers who are doctors