Mother’s Day: 63% of doctors work an average of 8 to 12 hours a day. (Representational image)
Mother’s Day: The complex issue of work-life balance for medical professionals has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mother’s Day 2023Sixty-five percent of doctor moms experience fatigue when trying to maintain a work-life balance. A new study released a day before Mother’s Day 2023 says that more than 50% of doctor-moms don’t get “me time.” It also found that nearly 70% felt guilty for not spending enough time with their children to cope with work demands.
Mother’s Day is a special day dedicated to honoring mothers for their love and contribution to their families and society. This Mother’s Day, Pristine Care and Lybrate Data Labs conducted a study among 500+ doctors across India who are mothers, to understand their personal and professional experiences and challenges.
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According to statistics, 63% of doctors work for an average of 8 to 12 hours a day. Because of this, only 35% of doctor-moms are completely satisfied with their work-life balance. With regard to workplace policies, 61% revealed they would prefer flexible working hours, while nearly 20% would prefer mental health support.
Dr. Garima Sahni, Gynecologist and Co-Founder, Pristine Care, said, “Motherhood is a beautiful journey, but at the same time, it can be overwhelming. The aim of the study was to assess how doctor-mothers balance their work and personal lives. We looked at the number of hours they work, their preferences for work schedules, time spent on self-care, and their views on human resources policies. About 80% of them felt that the workplace should provide support and resources specifically for doctor mothers. This tells us about the importance of mother-friendly policies in the healthcare sector.”
The study was conducted among doctors across all specialties in major metros and tier 2 cities.
The complex issue of work-life balance for medical professionals has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare professionals work under constant pressure in high-risk situations and successful people often cite family support as a major support in their careers.
Several studies have shown that emotional exhaustion and fatigue lead to feelings of being overburdened and overwhelmed. Symptoms of stress, anxiety, hopelessness, helplessness and burnout affect personal and work life. Taking time out for themselves and taking regular breaks while maintaining a schedule helps many doctors cope with the situation, the report said.
