A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reveals that the working hours of male physicians in Canada have significantly decreased over the past three decades. Despite continuing to work longer hours than the rest of the labor force, family physicians and specialists have experienced a decline in working hours between 1987 and 2021. The study, conducted by researchers at McMaster University, showed that male physicians, in particular, saw a more noticeable shift in their working hours. This decline was not attributed to the increasing number of female physicians in the workforce but rather to married males, who faced a reduction in hours due to various responsibilities outside of work.
Overall, both male and female physicians worked nearly seven fewer hours per week from 2017 to 2021 compared to 1987 to 1991, representing a 13 percent decline. Male doctors worked an average of 7.5 hours less per week, accounting for a 13.6 percent decrease, while female doctors, who have doubled in proportion in the workforce, maintained relatively stable working hours at around 45 hours per week. The study also revealed that married physicians were working significantly fewer hours compared to 30 years ago, with a 14 percent decrease in average weekly hours. Unmarried physicians also experienced a decline in hours, albeit to a lesser extent.
The ongoing crisis of health-care staffing and long emergency wait times in Canada has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found a dramatic drop in physician working hours during the second quarter of 2020 due to lockdowns and closures, but this decline was temporary, with hours returning to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. However, in 2021, nearly half of physicians and medical learners surveyed indicated that they were considering reducing or modifying their clinical work hours within the next two years, potentially due to burnout.
Physician burnout is believed to be a contributing factor to the declining work hours, with research suggesting that reducing work hours can help address burnout and heavy workloads. Changes in household structure, with more spouses joining the workforce, may also be influencing the trend of declining work hours among physicians. This shift is not unique to Canada, as similar trends have been observed in the United States and the United Kingdom, indicating a cultural shift toward more balanced home and work lives among male physicians. However, the study authors also note that further research is needed to establish the causes of declining hours and related changes in physician labor market behaviors.
In addressing the challenges faced by physicians, reducing paperwork burdens and implementing broader locum programs to provide substitute physicians may help alleviate some of the pressures on health-care workers. It is important to consider gender wage gaps and payment increases as potential factors influencing decreased working hours, as female physicians earn less than their male counterparts. The study emphasizes the need for additional research to better understand the implications of declining physician hours on the supply of physician services and related labor market behaviors.Ultimately, efforts to support physicians in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and reducing burnout are crucial to ensuring the delivery of quality patient care.
