Physicians’ Work Environment and Health A Prospective Controlled Intervention Study of Management Development Programs Targeting Female Physicians

Abstract: During the last decade, there has been a renewed interest in physicians´ working conditions at a time when health care is undergoing major structural and financial changes. Physicians report decreasing work satisfaction and at the same time increasingly contemplate on leaving their profession. Despite an increasing proportion of female physicians, they are underrepresented in management positions. Very often, female physicians also report worse personal health and less organisational influence than their male colleagues. Management programs have been viewed as an important vehicle to improve working conditions and career development for female physicians.The aim of the present thesis was to evaluate the effects on individual health, professional development, perception of organisational structure and career development. Fifty-two female physicians participated in structured 1-year management programs. The control group consisted of 52 physicians not participating in any formal management education during the study period. The female physicians were compared with 157 male physicians in order to evaluate possible gender and manager-reported differences on individual and organisational well-being. The study also assessed occupational predictors of individual well-being, health and professional development for managers.Participants in management programs reported a clearer organisational structure and improved professional development and influence. However, there were no significant effects with regard to health, sickness absenteeism, nor career development. Male and female physicians differed in several areas when assessed as a group, but stratifying for management level, most of the gender-related differences disappeared. When managers rated clearer organisational structure, this was associated with higher ratings on individual well-being and professional development.Management programs for female physicians might have some beneficial effects but these programs need to be better defined and targeted to the most important issues at hand to recruit future managers. Furthermore, these programs must be better integrated with other processes to create efficient and able managers.