Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities
Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a work-life (im)balance that has been present but not openly discussed in medicine, surgery, and science for decades. The pandemic has exposed inequities in existing institutional structure and policies concerning clinical workload, research prod...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | CJC Open |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589790X21000081 |
| _version_ | 1818599675927724032 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura Banks, PhD, RKin Varinder K. Randhawa, MD, PhD Tracey J.F. Colella, RN, PhD Savita Dhanvantari, PhD Kim A. Connelly, MBBS, PhD Lisa Robinson, MD Susanna Mak, MD PhD Maral Ouzounian, MD, PhD Sharon L. Mulvagh, MD Sharon Straus, MD Katherine Allan, PhD Cindy Ying Yin Yip, PhD Michelle M. Graham, MD |
| author_facet | Laura Banks, PhD, RKin Varinder K. Randhawa, MD, PhD Tracey J.F. Colella, RN, PhD Savita Dhanvantari, PhD Kim A. Connelly, MBBS, PhD Lisa Robinson, MD Susanna Mak, MD PhD Maral Ouzounian, MD, PhD Sharon L. Mulvagh, MD Sharon Straus, MD Katherine Allan, PhD Cindy Ying Yin Yip, PhD Michelle M. Graham, MD |
| author_sort | Laura Banks, PhD, RKin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a work-life (im)balance that has been present but not openly discussed in medicine, surgery, and science for decades. The pandemic has exposed inequities in existing institutional structure and policies concerning clinical workload, research productivity, and/or teaching excellence inadvertently privileging those who do not have significant caregiving responsibilities or those who have the resources to pay for their management. Methods: We sought to identify the challenges facing multidisciplinary faculty and trainees with dependents, and highlight a number of possible strategies to address challenges in work-life (im)balance. Results: To date, there are no Canadian-based data to quantify the physical and mental effect of COVID-19 on health care workers, multidisciplinary faculty, and trainees. As the pandemic evolves, formal strategies should be discussed with an intersectional lens to promote equity in the workforce, including (but not limited to): (1) the inclusion of broad representation (including equal representation of women and other marginalized persons) in institutional-based pandemic response and recovery planning and decision-making; (2) an evaluation (eg, institutional-led survey) of the effect of the pandemic on work-life balance; (3) the establishment of formal dialogue (eg, workshops, training, and media campaigns) to normalize coexistence of work and caregiving responsibilities and to remove stigma of gender roles; (4) a reevaluation of workload and promotion reviews; and (5) the development of formal mentorship programs to support faculty and trainees. Conclusions: We believe that a multistrategy approach needs to be considered by stakeholders (including policy-makers, institutions, and individuals) to create sustainable working conditions during and beyond this pandemic. Résumé: Contexte: La pandémie de COVID-19 a mis en lumière le déséquilibre entre travail et vie personnelle qui règne depuis des décennies dans les milieux de la médecine, de la chirurgie et des sciences, mais dont on ne parlait pas ouvertement. La pandémie a en effet mis au jour des iniquités dans la structure et les politiques des établissements en matière de charge de travail clinique, de productivité de la recherche et d’excellence en enseignement, qui favorisent par inadvertance les personnes qui n’ont pas de responsabilités familiales importantes ou qui ont les ressources nécessaires pour leur prise en charge. Méthodologie: Nous avons tenté de cerner les difficultés auxquelles font face les enseignants multidisciplinaires et les stagiaires ayant des personnes à charge, et nous proposons un certain nombre de stratégies possibles pour faciliter la conciliation travail-vie personnelle. Résultats: À ce jour, il n’existe pas de données canadiennes permettant de quantifier les répercussions physiques et mentales de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les travailleurs de la santé, les enseignants multidisciplinaires et les stagiaires. Au fil de l’évolution de la pandémie, il conviendrait de formuler des stratégies officielles à la lumière des commentaires d’intervenants des différents secteurs concernés, afin de promouvoir l’équilibre au sein des effectifs; ces stratégies pourraient notamment inclure ce qui suit (sans toutefois s’y limiter) : 1) l’inclusion d’une vaste représentation (y compris une représentation égale des femmes et des autres personnes marginalisées) pour la réponse à la pandémie dans les établissements, la planification du rétablissement et la prise de décisions; 2) une évaluation (p. ex. au moyen d’un sondage mené sous la direction des établissements) des répercussions de la pandémie sur la conciliation travail-vie personnelle; 3) l’établissement d’un dialogue formel (p. ex. ateliers, activités de formation et campagnes dans les médias) afin de normaliser la coexistence des responsabilités professionnelles et familiales et d’éliminer la stigmatisation associée aux rôles des sexes; 4) une réévaluation de la charge de travail et des promotions; et 5) la mise sur pied de programmes formels de mentorat pour soutenir les enseignants et les stagiaires. Conclusions: Nous croyons que les intervenants (décideurs, établissements et personnes) devraient envisager une approche multistratégie afin d’instaurer des conditions de travail viables pendant la pandémie et par la suite. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:23:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47bbf1cde6b34cffbaf195c4ecc160c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-790X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:23:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CJC Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-47bbf1cde6b34cffbaf195c4ecc160c82022-12-21T22:31:53ZengElsevierCJC Open2589-790X2021-05-0135627630Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based InequitiesLaura Banks, PhD, RKin0Varinder K. Randhawa, MD, PhD1Tracey J.F. Colella, RN, PhD2Savita Dhanvantari, PhD3Kim A. Connelly, MBBS, PhD4Lisa Robinson, MD5Susanna Mak, MD PhD6Maral Ouzounian, MD, PhD7Sharon L. Mulvagh, MD8Sharon Straus, MD9Katherine Allan, PhD10Cindy Ying Yin Yip, PhD11Michelle M. Graham, MD12Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Ontario, Canada; Corresponding author: Dr Laura Banks, University Health Network, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program, 347 Rumsey Rd, Toronto, Ontario M4G 1R7, Canada. Tel.: +1-416-597-3422; fax: +1-416-425-0301.Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kaufman Center for Heart Failure, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USACardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Cardiology, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Cardiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Cardiology, St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaProject Management Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; HeartLife Foundation, British Columbia, CanadaDivision of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaBackground: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a work-life (im)balance that has been present but not openly discussed in medicine, surgery, and science for decades. The pandemic has exposed inequities in existing institutional structure and policies concerning clinical workload, research productivity, and/or teaching excellence inadvertently privileging those who do not have significant caregiving responsibilities or those who have the resources to pay for their management. Methods: We sought to identify the challenges facing multidisciplinary faculty and trainees with dependents, and highlight a number of possible strategies to address challenges in work-life (im)balance. Results: To date, there are no Canadian-based data to quantify the physical and mental effect of COVID-19 on health care workers, multidisciplinary faculty, and trainees. As the pandemic evolves, formal strategies should be discussed with an intersectional lens to promote equity in the workforce, including (but not limited to): (1) the inclusion of broad representation (including equal representation of women and other marginalized persons) in institutional-based pandemic response and recovery planning and decision-making; (2) an evaluation (eg, institutional-led survey) of the effect of the pandemic on work-life balance; (3) the establishment of formal dialogue (eg, workshops, training, and media campaigns) to normalize coexistence of work and caregiving responsibilities and to remove stigma of gender roles; (4) a reevaluation of workload and promotion reviews; and (5) the development of formal mentorship programs to support faculty and trainees. Conclusions: We believe that a multistrategy approach needs to be considered by stakeholders (including policy-makers, institutions, and individuals) to create sustainable working conditions during and beyond this pandemic. Résumé: Contexte: La pandémie de COVID-19 a mis en lumière le déséquilibre entre travail et vie personnelle qui règne depuis des décennies dans les milieux de la médecine, de la chirurgie et des sciences, mais dont on ne parlait pas ouvertement. La pandémie a en effet mis au jour des iniquités dans la structure et les politiques des établissements en matière de charge de travail clinique, de productivité de la recherche et d’excellence en enseignement, qui favorisent par inadvertance les personnes qui n’ont pas de responsabilités familiales importantes ou qui ont les ressources nécessaires pour leur prise en charge. Méthodologie: Nous avons tenté de cerner les difficultés auxquelles font face les enseignants multidisciplinaires et les stagiaires ayant des personnes à charge, et nous proposons un certain nombre de stratégies possibles pour faciliter la conciliation travail-vie personnelle. Résultats: À ce jour, il n’existe pas de données canadiennes permettant de quantifier les répercussions physiques et mentales de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les travailleurs de la santé, les enseignants multidisciplinaires et les stagiaires. Au fil de l’évolution de la pandémie, il conviendrait de formuler des stratégies officielles à la lumière des commentaires d’intervenants des différents secteurs concernés, afin de promouvoir l’équilibre au sein des effectifs; ces stratégies pourraient notamment inclure ce qui suit (sans toutefois s’y limiter) : 1) l’inclusion d’une vaste représentation (y compris une représentation égale des femmes et des autres personnes marginalisées) pour la réponse à la pandémie dans les établissements, la planification du rétablissement et la prise de décisions; 2) une évaluation (p. ex. au moyen d’un sondage mené sous la direction des établissements) des répercussions de la pandémie sur la conciliation travail-vie personnelle; 3) l’établissement d’un dialogue formel (p. ex. ateliers, activités de formation et campagnes dans les médias) afin de normaliser la coexistence des responsabilités professionnelles et familiales et d’éliminer la stigmatisation associée aux rôles des sexes; 4) une réévaluation de la charge de travail et des promotions; et 5) la mise sur pied de programmes formels de mentorat pour soutenir les enseignants et les stagiaires. Conclusions: Nous croyons que les intervenants (décideurs, établissements et personnes) devraient envisager une approche multistratégie afin d’instaurer des conditions de travail viables pendant la pandémie et par la suite.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589790X21000081 |
| spellingShingle | Laura Banks, PhD, RKin Varinder K. Randhawa, MD, PhD Tracey J.F. Colella, RN, PhD Savita Dhanvantari, PhD Kim A. Connelly, MBBS, PhD Lisa Robinson, MD Susanna Mak, MD PhD Maral Ouzounian, MD, PhD Sharon L. Mulvagh, MD Sharon Straus, MD Katherine Allan, PhD Cindy Ying Yin Yip, PhD Michelle M. Graham, MD Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities CJC Open |
| title | Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities |
| title_full | Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities |
| title_fullStr | Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities |
| title_short | Cardiovascular Physicians, Scientists, and Trainees Balancing Work and Caregiving Responsibilities in the COVID-19 Era: Sex and Race-Based Inequities |
| title_sort | cardiovascular physicians scientists and trainees balancing work and caregiving responsibilities in the covid 19 era sex and race based inequities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589790X21000081 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurabanksphdrkin cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT varinderkrandhawamdphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT traceyjfcolellarnphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT savitadhanvantariphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT kimaconnellymbbsphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT lisarobinsonmd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT susannamakmdphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT maralouzounianmdphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT sharonlmulvaghmd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT sharonstrausmd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT katherineallanphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT cindyyingyinyipphd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities AT michellemgrahammd cardiovascularphysiciansscientistsandtraineesbalancingworkandcaregivingresponsibilitiesinthecovid19erasexandracebasedinequities |