Abstract
BACKGROUND: Children with complex developmental needs may require assistance from a developmental pediatric specialist to complete specialized assessments, treatments, and therapies. Despite reports of large waiting lists at many academic centres, there is no workforce information regarding developmental pediatric care in Canada. Prior surveys of the developmental pediatric workforce in the United States have suggested that the pipeline of new trainees completing sub-specialty residency in developmental pediatrics may not be sufficient to meet predicted needs. OBJECTIVES: In an effort to capture demographic data to understand the current developmental pediatric workforce, we conducted a survey to determine: 1) the demographic profile of developmental pediatric professionals who comprise the current workforce and their career plans; 2) the challenges and trends needing to be considered for future resource planning; and 3) opportunities for innovative care provision within developmental pediatrics. DESIGN/METHODS: The workforce subcommittee of the Developmental Pediatrics Specialty Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) drafted a 26-item questionnaire. This cross-sectional survey was pilot tested, and guided by a previous instrument used by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study population included practicing developmental pediatricians in Canada, who were sent an email link from the RCPSC inviting them to respond. Data analysis was completed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 145 participants completed the study (91% response rate). Forty-five percent of the responding developmental pediatricians have >20 years of experience. Within the next three to five years, 23% of the respondents plan to retire completely from practice. Trends influencing workforce planning were identified including the influence of government funding resources for specific neurodevelopmental disorders (32% of responses), requirements for translation services (70% of responses), and coordination issues with multi-disciplinary assessments (64% of responses). Top ranked priorities for innovative care provision in this specialty included further collaborations with community mental health agencies, capacity building in Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and an increased focus on care navigation efficiencies. CONCLUSION: There are concerning trends present in the demographic distribution of developmental pediatricians given upcoming retirements and increasing service demands. Targeted advocacy to promote capacity building and recruitment to the specialty may be needed to ensure service needs continue to be met.