Academic clinician frontline-worker wellbeing and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic experience: Were there gender differences?

• Published in: Preventive medicine reports Vol. 36; p. 102517
• Main Authors: Patel, S I, Ghebre, R, Dwivedi, R, Macheledt, K, Watson, S, Duffy, B L, Rogers, E A, Pusalavidyasagar, S, Guo, C, Misono, S, Evans, M D, Lingras, K, Kunin-Batson, A, McCarty, C A, Sandoval-Garcia, C, Nakib, N, Johnson, C, Barker, S, Hutto, S, Church, A L, Vezys, V, Girard, A, Spencer, S, Berge, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Academic medicine; Clinician wellbeing; Frontline; Gender equity; Regular article; Workforce; Clinician wellbeing; Workforce; Gender equity; Academic medicine; Frontline
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102517
• ISSN: 2211-3355

Prior research suggests COVID-19 has amplified stress on Academic Clinician Frontline-Workers (ACFW). The aim of this paper is: (1) to better understand the experiences of ACFW during the COVID-19 pandemic including their mental-emotional wellbeing, academic productivity, clinical experiences, and (2) to examine any gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was administered to University of Minnesota/M Health Fairview systems' faculty February-June 2021. Of the 291 respondents, 156 were clinicians, with 91 (58 %) identifying as Frontline-Workers (ACFW). Faculty wellbeing was assessed using validated measures in addition to measures of productivity and sociodemographics. For example, ACFW reported a higher Work-Family Conflict (WFC) scores compared to non-ACFW (26.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.057) but did not report higher Family-Work Conflict (FWC) scores (17.7 vs. 16.3, p = 0.302). Gender sub-analyses, revealed that women ACFW compared to men ACFW reported higher WFC scores (27.7 vs. 24.1, p = 0.021) and FWC (19.3 vs. 14.3, p = 0.004). Academically, ACFW reported submitting fewer grants and anticipated delays in promotion and tenure due to the COVID-19 (p = 0.035). Results suggest COVID-19 has exacerbated ACFW stress and gender inequities. Reports of anticipated delay in promotion for ACFW may pose a challenge for the long-term academic success of ACFW, especially women ACFW. In addition, women may experience higher FWC and WFC as compared to men. Schools of academic medicine should consider re-evaluating promotion/tenure processes and creating resources to support women ACFW as well as ACFW caregivers.