Side Effects: Progress, with Asterisks

Burnout is easing. Sleep science is getting weird. And dental schools have been winging cadaver training for 50 years. This week's research is full of good news that immediately complicates itself.

By
Kerri Miller
May 6, 2026
6 min

MDSpire News

Overview

Expand on the trends in work intentions for female physicians compared to male counterparts.

Background

The well-being of physicians is critical for maintaining healthcare quality and addressing workforce shortages. Understanding trends in work intentions can inform strategies to enhance job satisfaction and retention. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape these dynamics, necessitating ongoing evaluation and intervention.

Data Highlights

Year	Intent to Reduce Hours (%)	Intent to Leave (%)
2022	25.6	19.9
2024	22.5	15.1

Key Findings

Intent to reduce hours among physicians decreased from 25.6% in 2022 to 22.5% in 2024.
Intent to leave decreased from 19.9% in 2022 to 15.1% in 2024.
Female physicians were more likely to want to reduce hours but less likely to want to leave compared to male physicians.
Physicians with over 20 years of experience had the highest odds of both wanting to reduce hours and leave.
Part-time physicians were at greater risk for both outcomes compared to full-time physicians.
Factors influencing these trends included workflow inefficiency, compensation dissatisfaction, and staffing instability.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare organizations should focus on addressing the identified factors contributing to physician dissatisfaction to improve retention. Strategies may include enhancing workflow efficiency and ensuring competitive compensation. Understanding gender differences in work intentions can also guide targeted interventions.

Conclusion

While there has been some improvement in physician work intentions since the pandemic, significant challenges remain that require targeted interventions to ensure workforce stability.