Initiatives to Support the Homelife of Women Physicians: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews initiatives to help women physicians manage homelife responsibilities, finding limited evidence and suggesting a need for more research.

Contribution

The paper provides the first systematic review of interventions addressing homelife challenges for women physicians.

Findings

Only 8 studies met inclusion criteria, mostly from the USA and focusing on childbearing and childcare.

Lactation support interventions showed moderately positive effects on breastfeeding duration and work interference.

Studies were methodologically weak and did not address homelife needs of childless women physicians.

Abstract

Women physicians are critical to healthcare delivery and have primary responsibility for homelife activities. Although diverse initiatives now support the work-related challenges of women physicians, published evidence about initiatives to address their homelife challenges has not been evaluated. We conducted a systematic review of interventions to mitigate diverse homelife responsibilities of women physicians.

A comprehensive search was conducted for intervention studies with outcome measures related to childbearing, childcare, homelife responsibilities, and/or other family/personal support of women physicians in PubMed or PsycINFO and reference mining of publications. Publications at any time before September 15, 2025, were considered. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted data on the type of homelife initiative, study design, population, and setting for eligible studies. Results were extracted for prespecified outcomes: participation, uptake/response rates, effect on clinical outcomes, satisfaction, burnout, and practice engagement. Certainty of evidence and risk of bias of included studies were evaluated. No meta-analysis was performed due to study heterogeneity.

Of 2896 reviewed citations, 8 studies met inclusion criteria including 5 from the USA and 1 each from Turkey, Germany, and Japan. Sample sizes ranged from 6 to 790. Interventions with outcome measures directly affecting homelife addressed lactation support (4); pre- and post-partum leave (2); and assistance with housework (2). All studies were limited by non-randomized design and selection effects. Only the effects of lactation interventions were graded as moderately positive for breastfeeding duration and reduced interference with work. All studies had moderate or high risk of bias.

The evidence base of interventions to assist women physicians with their homelife responsibilities primarily addressed childbearing and childcare. Studies were generally methodologically weak and failed to offer support to women who did not have children. This review identifies an important opportunity for research to support women physicians’ careers.

CRD42025649041

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-025-09972-y.

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