Sahlollbey Nick, Vijay Arunima, Carr Michele M
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Jan-Dec;54:19160216251321458. doi: 10.1177/19160216251321458. Epub 2025 Mar 17.
IntroductionOtolaryngologists were among the physicians with the highest risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and more than half of them reported anxiety and distress during the pandemic. Consequences of this experience on retirement plans among otolaryngologists are unknown. This study aimed to describe the effect of the pandemic on retirement plans among otolaryngologists.MethodsA cross-sectional survey assessed retirement plans of physicians in the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (CSOHNS) between May and June 2023. Participants were recruited through CSOHNS membership lists. Respondents shared demographic information and rated 4 pandemic-related factors and 13 independent factors on a 5-point Likert scale from least important to most important in influencing retirement.ResultsEighty-two members responded, of which 20 (24.4%) were females. All female participants were 65 or younger, whereas 25 (40.3%) males were 65 or older. Half of the participants were in academic practice; 39% reported no change to their anticipated retirement date prior to the pandemic, whereas 25% reported either earlier or later dates. A greater proportion of female otolaryngologists reported earlier dates of retirement than originally planned compared with males (40% vs 19.3%). The factors most commonly rated as "important" were the desire for time with loved ones (mean: 3.82, SD: 1.179), the desire to improve their quality of life (mean: 3.65, SD: 1.344), and increased workload (mean: 3.26, SD: 1.210). Significant differences were observed between genders and age groups (≤55 years vs >55 years) regarding increased workload, desire for improved quality of life, personal and loved ones' health concerns, pandemic-related concerns, psychological/emotional issues, and burnout ( < .05).ConclusionsPandemic-related factors play a limited role in retirement decisions made by otolaryngologists. More females reported earlier retirement dates after the pandemic, which may further exacerbate preexisting gender inequalities in the otolaryngology workforce.
引言
耳鼻喉科医生是接触新冠病毒风险最高的医生群体之一，其中超过一半的人在疫情期间表示焦虑和苦恼。这种经历对耳鼻喉科医生退休计划的影响尚不清楚。本研究旨在描述疫情对耳鼻喉科医生退休计划的影响。
方法
一项横断面调查评估了2023年5月至6月加拿大耳鼻喉科-头颈外科学会（CSOHNS）医生的退休计划。参与者通过CSOHNS会员名单招募。受访者分享了人口统计学信息，并对4个与疫情相关的因素和13个独立因素在影响退休方面从最不重要到最重要进行了5点李克特量表评分。
结果
82名成员做出回应，其中20名（24.4%）为女性。所有女性参与者年龄在65岁及以下，而25名（40.3%）男性年龄在65岁及以上。一半的参与者从事学术工作；39%的人表示疫情前预期退休日期没有变化，而25%的人表示提前或推迟了退休日期。与男性相比，更多的女性耳鼻喉科医生报告退休日期比原计划提前（40%对19.3%）。最常被评为“重要”的因素是渴望与亲人共度时光（均值：3.82，标准差：1.179）、渴望改善生活质量（均值：3.65，标准差：1.344）和工作量增加（均值：3.26，标准差：1.210）。在工作量增加、渴望改善生活质量、个人和亲人健康问题、与疫情相关的担忧、心理/情绪问题和职业倦怠方面，性别和年龄组（≤55岁对>55岁）之间存在显著差异（P<0.05）。
结论
与疫情相关的因素在耳鼻喉科医生的退休决策中作用有限。更多女性在疫情后报告提前退休日期，这可能会进一步加剧耳鼻喉科劳动力中已有的性别不平等。
