EFFECT OF GENDER ON THE OBSTETRIC-GYNECOLOGIC WORK FORCE

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 97; no. 5; pp. 794 - 797
• Main Authors: Pearse, Warren H., Haffner, William H. J., Primack, Aron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 01-05-2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Efficiency, Organizational - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gynecology; Health Care Surveys; Health participants; Health Workforce - trends; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Obstetrics; Physicians, Women - statistics & numerical data; Physicians, Women - supply & distribution; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Health Care; Sex Distribution; United States; Human; Statistical analysis; Force; Gynecology; Sex; Physician; Work; Female; Influence; Male; Obstetrics; Age
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1097/00006250-200105000-00028

As increasing numbers of female physicians enter the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology, their productivity (defined as producing goods and services) as compared with male physicians becomes important. Data from the American Medical Association socioeconomic survey and from a survey of ACOG Fellows indicate that, as a group, female physicians in the specialty are approximately 85% as productive as male physicians in the specialty. ACOG data for physician net income validate the productivity calculations (P < .03). The increasing numbers of female physicians in the specialty will lead to a decreasing aggregate productivity. At the same time, the increasing numbers of women of all ages in the United States will lead to a decline in the available obstetrician-gynecologist work force beginning in the year 2010.