Career paths in diagnostic radiology: Scope and effect of part-time work

PURPOSE: To determine the extent and consequences of part-time work in radi ology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was mailed to 1,500 male and 1,500 female r adiologists. Questions assessed part-time work and its effect on profession al and family issues. The effects of education, radiology practice characte ristics, organizational support human resource practices and family respons ibilities on career and professional satisfaction were studied. RESULTS: Ten and a half percent of the radiologists surveyed-7.4% of the me n and 30.2% of the women-were working part-time. The part-time radiologists reported earning 56.3% of the income earned by full-time radiologists and working 56.9% of the hours worked by their full-time counterparts, with dis proportionately fewer benefits. Part-time private practice radiologists wer e significantly less likely to be partners. For academic radiologists, havi ng worked part-time at any time was significantly associated with lower aca demic rank. CONCLUSION: The motivation for working part-time differed significantly acc ording to gender and age. Benefits were disproportionate, and radiologists who had worked part-time were less likely to be partners or full professors .