Article Dans Une Revue ERJ Open Research Année : 2026

Female pulmonologists experienced poorer health and reduced quality of life related to their professional activities

1 CHU Bordeaux - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux
2 CRCTB - Centre de recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux [Bordeaux]
3 CIC Bordeaux
4 Pneumologie [CHU Amiens]
5 Service Pneumologie / Allergologie [CHU Clermont-Ferrand]
6 CIC Montpellier
7 CHU Montpellier = Montpellier University Hospital
8 Hôpital Cochin [AP-HP]
9 IC UM3 (UMR 8104 / U1016) - Institut Cochin
10 Service de pneumologie [Avicenne]
11 H&P - U1272 Inserm - Hypoxie et Poumon : pneumopathologies fibrosantes, modulations ventilatoires et circulatoires
12 CIMI - Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses
13 CHU Tenon [AP-HP]
14 CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière [AP-HP]
15 UMRS 1158 - Neurophysiologie Respiratoire Expérimentale et Clinique
16 HEGP - Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou [APHP]
17 UPCité - Université Paris Cité
18 CHU Angers - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers
19 VIM (UR 0892) - Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires
20 Hôpital Foch [Suresnes]
21 Service de pneumologie [Hôpital Foch]
22 UVSQ - Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
23 IS-ALIVE - IS-ALIVE : Investigation of Sleep, Acute Lung Injury and VEntilation [Axe de recherche du CIC de Poitiers – CIC 1042]
24 CIC 1402 - CIC de Poitiers – Centre d'investigation clinique de Poitiers (CIC 1402)
25 CHU de Poitiers [La Milétrie] - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Poitiers = Poitiers University Hospital
26 CIIL - Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille - INSERM U 1019 - UMR 9017 - UMR 8204
27 CHRU Lille - Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [CHU Lille]
28 UNICANCER/CRCL - Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon
29 Hôpital Louis Pradel [CHU - HCL]
30 DCAC - Défaillance Cardiovasculaire Aiguë et Chronique
31 Service de Pneumologie [CHRU Nancy]
32 Service de pneumologie [Grenoble]
Damien Basille
Jonathan Messika
Anne-Claire Toffart

Résumé

Background: Despite increasing gender parity in medical school enrolment, disparities in career progression and physician well-being persist. This study evaluated professional experiences, health status and perceived gender-related barriers among pulmonologists in France.
Methods: A nationwide, anonymous cross-sectional survey (546-item) was distributed to all French pulmonologists between July 2023 and February 2024. Data included work-related health disorders, career paths and gender perceptions. Gender differences in dissatisfaction and health issues were assessed (chi 2 and Fisher's exact tests). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the impact of gender on career outcomes.
Results: A total of 586 pulmonologists responded (21% response rate), 57% of whom were women; median age of 38 (interquartile range 32–49) years. Job satisfaction was moderate (mean± sd score of 3.5±1.0, out of 5)). Mental health issues were common. 51.5% reported anxiety, 22.0% burnout, 16.9% depression and over 60% had sleep disturbances. Women reported significantly higher rates of anxiety (58.8% versus 44.2%), burnout (27.9% versus 15.4%) and anxiolytic use (23.0% versus 14.5%) than men. Gender was a limiting factor in career choices (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.41–2.80) and opportunities (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.57–3.15), particularly among female physicians with children. Women were more likely than men to adjust their career plans for family reasons (18% versus 12%) or job offers (67.0% versus 33.1%). In multivariate analyses, gender remained a limiting factor in career choices (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.39–2.90) and opportunities (OR 2.39, 95%CI 1.65–3.48), after adjustment for age, number of children and practice settings.
Conclusion: This national survey highlights notable gender-based disparities in mental health and career advancement among French pulmonologists.

Dates et versions

hal-05593961 , version 1 (16-04-2026)

Identifiants

Citer

Claire Leloup, Émilie Mesa, Damien Basille, Augustin Boudoussier, Arnaud Maurac, et al.. Female pulmonologists experienced poorer health and reduced quality of life related to their professional activities. ERJ Open Research, 2026, 12 (2), pp.01383-2025. ⟨10.1183/23120541.01383-2025⟩. ⟨hal-05593961⟩
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