Young Pneumologists in Germany - working conditions in patient care and science

Introduction: Demographic change, medical and technical advances in patient care, increasing economic pressure and digitalization are drivers for changing working conditions and current stress factors of young physicians. Methods: From September to November 2019, the YoungDGP working group of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) performed a survey among physicians undergoing specialty training. The internet-based survey with a maximun of 62 questions consisted of five areas: General working conditions, conditions of specialty training and medical education, work-life-balance and the impact of economic considerations on medicine. Results: 224 participants completed the survey (mean age 33,8±4,5years, 46% male). Out of these 46% aimed at a 6-year training as a specialist for internal medicine and pneumology and 36% at a 5-year training for general internal medicine with an additional 3-year training for respiratory medicine. 28,5% of the participants were not satisfied with the conditions of the training, 44,7% rather dissatisfied and 26,8% were undecided. In 54% working time was not recorded. Rotations in other specialties of internal medicine were not systematically planned in 80%. 30 out of 82 reported on existing job-related childcare, however, childcare was not accessible due to insufficient capacity or inadequate opening hours. Conclusion: This survey by the newly founded YoungDGP provides evidence for various stress factors within different areas of working lives of young physicians in pneumology. Adjustments are urgently needed to ensure a healthy and effective work environment, which positively impacts patient care and holds a maximum of physicians in direct patient care.