From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care

Background: Declining numbers of family physicians (FPs) provide obstetrical care - an essential service. Exploring reasons why current family medicine obstetrics (FM-OB) clinician teachers chose this field and what motivates them to continue may inform retention strategies and inspire future famil...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sabrina Kolker, Anne Biringer, Joyce Nyhof-Young, Cynthia Whitehead, Sahana Kukan, Jessica Bytautas, June Carroll
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Medical Education Journal 2025-04-01
Series:Canadian Medical Education Journal
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/80245
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850185870027522048
author Sabrina Kolker
Anne Biringer
Joyce Nyhof-Young
Cynthia Whitehead
Sahana Kukan
Jessica Bytautas
June Carroll
author_facet Sabrina Kolker
Anne Biringer
Joyce Nyhof-Young
Cynthia Whitehead
Sahana Kukan
Jessica Bytautas
June Carroll
author_sort Sabrina Kolker
collection DOAJ
description Background: Declining numbers of family physicians (FPs) provide obstetrical care - an essential service. Exploring reasons why current family medicine obstetrics (FM-OB) clinician teachers chose this field and what motivates them to continue may inform retention strategies and inspire future family medicine learners. Our objective was to explore perspectives of academic FPs who practice FM-OB with the goal of informing recruitment of future FM-OB practitioners and retention of those currently practicing FM-OB. Methods: Academic FP clinician teachers from three urban multidisciplinary Canadian centers who currently practice FM-OB and deliver at one hospital participated in 60 minute, semi-structured interviews. Questions explored participant experiences providing FM-OB care. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparison method of descriptive thematic analysis. Results: There were 10 participants. The data revealed an overarching theme highlighting three key influces on the decision to start and continue practicing FM-OB: 1) Individual; 2) Interpersonal, and 3) Systemic influences. Early exposure to positive feedback, hands-on skills, and role models shaped their decisions to start. The joy derived from this work, mentoring, patient relationships, and a supportive environment fueled their commitment to continue practicing. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of early exposure, effective role models, and supportive systemic factors in encouraging trainees to practice FM-OB and retaining FPs in this field. By also identifying the sources of joy in FM-OB and promoting work-life balance, these findings can help inform programs to retain FM-OB providers and inspire future family medicine learners.
format Article
id doaj-art-caff12f6fdb54b2b9b67466fb496b396
institution OA Journals
issn 1923-1202
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Canadian Medical Education Journal
record_format Article
series Canadian Medical Education Journal
spelling doaj-art-caff12f6fdb54b2b9b67466fb496b3962025-08-20T02:16:33ZengCanadian Medical Education JournalCanadian Medical Education Journal1923-12022025-04-0110.36834/cmej.80245From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical careSabrina Kolker0Anne Biringer1Joyce Nyhof-Young2Cynthia Whitehead3Sahana Kukan4Jessica Bytautas5June Carroll6University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoUniversity of TorontoUniversity of TorontoMount Sinai HealthUniversity of TorontoUniversity of Toronto Background: Declining numbers of family physicians (FPs) provide obstetrical care - an essential service. Exploring reasons why current family medicine obstetrics (FM-OB) clinician teachers chose this field and what motivates them to continue may inform retention strategies and inspire future family medicine learners. Our objective was to explore perspectives of academic FPs who practice FM-OB with the goal of informing recruitment of future FM-OB practitioners and retention of those currently practicing FM-OB. Methods: Academic FP clinician teachers from three urban multidisciplinary Canadian centers who currently practice FM-OB and deliver at one hospital participated in 60 minute, semi-structured interviews. Questions explored participant experiences providing FM-OB care. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparison method of descriptive thematic analysis. Results: There were 10 participants. The data revealed an overarching theme highlighting three key influces on the decision to start and continue practicing FM-OB: 1) Individual; 2) Interpersonal, and 3) Systemic influences. Early exposure to positive feedback, hands-on skills, and role models shaped their decisions to start. The joy derived from this work, mentoring, patient relationships, and a supportive environment fueled their commitment to continue practicing. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of early exposure, effective role models, and supportive systemic factors in encouraging trainees to practice FM-OB and retaining FPs in this field. By also identifying the sources of joy in FM-OB and promoting work-life balance, these findings can help inform programs to retain FM-OB providers and inspire future family medicine learners. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/80245
spellingShingle Sabrina Kolker
Anne Biringer
Joyce Nyhof-Young
Cynthia Whitehead
Sahana Kukan
Jessica Bytautas
June Carroll
From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
Canadian Medical Education Journal
title From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
title_full From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
title_fullStr From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
title_full_unstemmed From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
title_short From passion to practice: clinician teachers’ insights on family medicine obstetrical care
title_sort from passion to practice clinician teachers insights on family medicine obstetrical care
url https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/80245
work_keys_str_mv AT sabrinakolker frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT annebiringer frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT joycenyhofyoung frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT cynthiawhitehead frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT sahanakukan frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT jessicabytautas frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare
AT junecarroll frompassiontopracticeclinicianteachersinsightsonfamilymedicineobstetricalcare