(254) Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Retirement in Female Otolaryngologists

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, female physicians were at higher risk of burnout compared to male counterparts. Female otolaryngologists were also among those with the highest risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to describe the impact of the pandemic on retirement plans among female otolaryngologists.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey assessing retirement plans was distributed to physicians in the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology between May to June 2023. Respondents shared demographic information and rated 4 pandemic-related factors and 14 independent factors on a 5-point scale from least important to most important for retirement plans. A Mann-Whitney U analysis was employed to evaluate the statistical significance of gender-based differences in the scores.

Results: 82 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. A greater proportion of female otolaryngologists worked full-time and in non-academic practice settings. 8 (40%) females reported an earlier date of retirement compared to 12 (19.3%) of men. Female otolaryngologists reported several factors as significantly more important to retirement than their male counterparts. These included: burnout (3.89 vs 2.87), increased workload (3.9 vs 3.04), pandemic-related financial concerns (1.78 vs 1.48), desire to improve quality of life (QOL) (4.28 vs 3.44), health concerns of a loved one (2.56 vs 1.46), and personal health concerns (3.44 vs 2.09) (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Pandemic related financial factors disproportionately affected retirement plans among female otolaryngologists. More females reported earlier retirement dates after the pandemic, which may further exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities in the otolaryngology workforce.