Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate role conflict between professional and familial responsibilities among obstetric health care providers during a natural disaster between those required to stay in the hospital versus those who were at home during a catastrophic weather event.
Methods: A survey was used of obstetric attending and resident physicians in the Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology following Hurricane Harvey on August 26, 2017.
Results: Ninety one of 103 physicians (88%) completed the survey. Survey responses were compared between physicians who worked in the hospital (n = 47) versus those who were at home (n = 44) during the storm and its immediate aftermath. Physicians in the hospital and at home agreed (47% and 48%, respectively, P = 0.94) that professional duties conflicted with family obligations and felt torn (49% and 55%, respectively, P = 0.48) regarding family obligations. A majority of homebound health care providers disagreed with the statement that professional duties override family responsibilities, whereas less than half of in-hospital providers felt the same (68% at-home versus 47% of the hospital-team, P = 0.10).
Conclusion: As organizations prepare for possible catastrophic situations, institutions must realize that obstetric health care providers will experience role conflict between professional and family responsibilities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:33-37).
Keywords: disasters; emergencies; hurricanes; obstetrician-gynecologists; physician role-conflict.