Accepted Type
Dedicated Poster
Code
LP4 - 04
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Poster
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Title
Parental Leave Policies in Canadian Undergraduate Medical Education: A Policy Review
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
Canadian medical schools have increasingly diversified their admissions processes to allow for a demographic mix. Successful progression of all students requires supports such as parental leave policies. This work reviews the current parental leave policies in Canadian Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME), determines existing gaps, and provides recommendations for pan-national consistency and support.
Methods
We obtained any applicable policies and any other relevant information regarding parental leave from 12 Canadian UGME programs. Two coders then individually reviewed all information, extracted core themes, and identified positive and negative aspects. Findings were compared across medical schools. Results were reviewed by a senior faculty member.
Results
Key themes included issues pertaining to confidentiality, inclusive diction, duration, and accommodations. Two institutions acknowledged non-traditional parental dynamics. The duration of short-term leave before necessitating a full year Leave of Absence (LOA) was variable with a median of 5 weeks (range 1-8 weeks). Three institutions have policy on accommodations (eg. lactation rooms); however, this was not consistent across the country.
Conclusion
To support the increasingly diverse UGME classes, it is recommended that Canadian medical schools include policy that provides clarity and maintains inclusivity with support to the student as the ultimate priority. There are discrepancies across programs which indicate a need to develop comparable policies. Academic plans detailing planning and returning from the parental LOA, including accommodations (on-call shifts, ER shifts, lactation rooms), would be beneficial to students if represented in policy.
Keyword 1
Diversity
Keyword 2
Social Accountability
Keyword 3
Inclusivity
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (First choice)
Student Affairs
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Elizabeth Burden
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
