Personal and practice profile of male and female ophthalmologists in India.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to study the practice pattern, personal profile, and work-family balance of male and female ophthalmologists in India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted through 41 point questionnaire sent to the members of All India Ophthalmological Society dealing with practice profile and personal circumstances of ophthalmologists.

RESULTS

Six hundred and twenty-two (8%) responses were obtained out of 7723 invitations sent. A total of 452 were male and 170 were female ophthalmologists. Age group of 30-39 years was most common age of respondents (male 155; 35.3%; female 81; 47.6%). Larger number of male ophthalmologists (157; 34.7%) worked for more than 9 h a day than female ophthalmologists (41; 24.1%) (P = 0.01). Larger number of male ophthalmologists (229; 50.7%) earned more than Rs. 1 lakh/month than female ophthalmologists (55; 32.4%) (P = 0.00001) More female ophthalmologists (21; 12.4%) than males (26; 5.8%) said that they faced cultural, ethnic or gender bias at work place (P = 0.002). Forty-four (25.9%) female and 54 (12%) male ophthalmologists said that they often curtailed their work for family needs (P = 0.0001). Two hundred and fifty-two (55.8%) male ophthalmologists and 78 (45.9%) female ophthalmologists considered their profession rewarding (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Ophthalmology as a profession was considered rewarding by both male and female ophthalmologists. However, female ophthalmologists were curtailing their work for family needs and earning less than male ophthalmologists. Female ophthalmologists were also subject to gender bias at workplace. These issues need to be tackled to improve the work satisfaction of ophthalmology workforce.