ArticleJournal of surgical education2024
Transforming Perceptions: The Impact of a Formal Parental Leave Policy on Surgical Trainees.
Article in Journal of surgical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Leave During Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship: Balancing Flexibility and Educational Rigor.Annals of surgical oncology · 2026Article
- Parenthood in US Medical Training Across Specialty Groups: Scoping Review.JMIR medical education · 2026Article
- Parental Leave Policies in Obstetrics and Gynecology Training Programs in the United States and Canada.O&G open · 2026Article
- Obstacles during training of pregnant doctors in Germany before and after COVID-19: is there a need for change?Innovative surgical sciences · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveSurgical trainees who welcome a new child during residency often face challenges related to appropriate parental leave. To address this, we instituted a comprehensive family medical leave policy within our training program and assessed resident perceptions before and after the policy's introduction. We hypothesized that this new formal policy would enhance feelings of support amongst all (not just childbearing) trainees.
designA web-based survey to gauge resident perceptions on parental leave was distributed to all residents at a single academic general surgery residency at 2 intervals: prior to policy implementation and 1 year after policy implementation.
settingThe study was conducted at a single institution, academic general surgery residency program.
participantsAll general surgery residents at the institution were included (n = 95).
resultsAbout 40 out of 95 (42%) residents participated in the initial survey and 25 of 95 (26%) completed the subsequent survey. There was a significant improvement in resident reported satisfaction with the policy from pre to post: 15% pre to 68% post, p < 0.001, report the policy frequently supported trainees' needs, 20% pre to 88% post, p < 0.001, perceived the policy as fair. Most residents (90.0% pre and 80.0% post) perceived pregnancy as a risk during surgical training. There were no differences in perception of the new policy between residents who were parents and residents who were not parents.
conclusionsThe introduction of a comprehensive family medical leave policy improved all surgical trainees' (including nonparents) perception of policy effectiveness and policy fairness. This is counter to the published perception that parental leave creates a burden on fellow trainees. However, pregnancy remains a stressor for the individual new parent. Surgical programs can develop supportive formal family medical leave policies; it is important to address the inherent systemic and cultural barriers surrounding childrearing during surgical training.
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Registered trials
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