K.E. Hartmann is associate dean, Office of Clinical Translational Scientist Development, and professor of obstetrics & gynecology and medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1465-9653. A.C. Sundermann is an MD/PhD candidate, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6790-5539. R. Helton is program manager, Office of Clinical Translational Scientist Development, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6775-3782. H. Bird is program manager, Partnership in Actively Retaining Talented Early-career Researchers in Science Program (PARTNERS), Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8899-0341. A. Wood is manager of faculty development programs, Office of Faculty Affairs, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2472-1921.
Acad Med. 2018 Nov;93(11):1707-1712. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000002229.
Academic scientists work in competitive environments, and many institutions invest in career development supports. These investments may be imperiled when extraprofessional demands challenge a faculty member's reserve capacity. This research assessed prevalence of caregiving challenges and estimated incidence of stressful life events.
In 2015-2016, the authors surveyed recipients of career development awards supporting ≥ 75% effort and individuals within the funding period of their first National Institutes of Health R01 or equivalent at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Domains included family structure, hospitalizations of family members, responsibility for coordination of caregiving, and an inventory of stressful life events.
Seventy-two percent (152 of 210) of early career researchers responded. Over half endorsed experiencing one or more substantial caregiving challenges in the prior year. This included 35 (23%) having a child or adult in the household hospitalized in the prior year and 36 (24%) being responsible for health care needs for a child or adult in the household, or for coordinating elder care, assisted living, or hospice care. The majority experienced one or more caregiving challenges. Stressful life events increased relative risk of "thinking about leaving academics" by 70% (risk ratio: 1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.2, 2.4). Prevalence and incidence of caregiving demands did not differ by gender.
Leaders, administrators, mentors, and faculty should anticipate that most women and men early career researchers will experience substantial caregiving challenges and life events in any given year. Sufficient need exists to warrant investigation of institutional programs to address caregiving challenges.
学术科学家在竞争环境中工作，许多机构投资于职业发展支持。当非专业需求挑战教职员工的储备能力时，这些投资可能会受到威胁。本研究评估了照顾挑战的普遍性，并估计了压力生活事件的发生率。
在 2015-2016 年，作者调查了支持≥75%工作量的职业发展奖获得者以及范德比尔特大学医学中心资助期内的第一个美国国立卫生研究院 R01 或同等机构的个人。研究领域包括家庭结构、家庭成员住院、照顾协调责任以及压力生活事件清单。
72%（152/210）的早期职业研究人员做出了回应。超过一半的人表示在过去一年中经历了一次或多次重大的照顾挑战。这包括 35 人（23%）在前一年家中有孩子或成人住院，36 人（24%）负责照顾家庭中的儿童或成人，或协调老年人护理、辅助生活或临终关怀。大多数人经历了一次或多次照顾挑战。生活事件的压力增加了“考虑离开学术界”的相对风险 70%（风险比：1.7；95%置信区间：1.2，2.4）。性别对照顾需求的流行率和发生率没有影响。
领导者、管理人员、导师和教师应该预计，大多数女性和男性早期职业研究人员在任何给定年份都会经历重大的照顾挑战和生活事件。需要足够的需求来证明对机构计划解决照顾挑战进行调查是合理的。
