Views of Japanese medical students on the work-life balance of female physicians

Abstract

ObjectivesTo survey medical students on their ideas of future work-life balance and discuss topics for next-generation medical education. MethodsFirst-year (n=372, 34.9% female) and sixth-year medical students (n=311, 44.1% female) responded to a questionnaire on future self, marriage and childcare, and gender differences at the workplace. Responses were compared between academic years and gender. Responses were evaluated by gender and academic year using the Mann-Whitney U test. Significance was set at p<0.01. ResultsThe first-year and sixth-year students, regardless of gender, had different views on gender-related favorable treatment at workplaces {U=13464, p=0.000 (first-year), U=10407, p=0.000 (sixth-year)}. A greater percentage of female students would choose career options based on the possibility of marriage and childbirth {U=10689, p=0.000 (first-year), U=10930, p=0.000 (sixth-year)}. Among first-year students, a greater percentage of female students expected to work part-time. Also among first-year students, greater percentages of female students expected to work part-time or leave their jobs temporarily while raising their children. Compared with first-year male students, first-year female students expected to undertake larger portions of the childcare and housework burden than their partners. However, gender differences in work-life balance and childcare leave vanished in the sixth-year students. ConclusionsFemale medical students accepted childcare and housework burdens as inevitable; the work environment they choose might affect their career development. While support from male partners and institutions must be increased, voluntary actions and change in mentality of female students need to be promoted through medical education to prevent them from waiting passively for the situation to change.

Exploring Attractiveness of the Basic Sciences for Female Physicians

“…Recently, regardless of gender, a controllable lifestyle is becoming a crucial factor for medical students when choosing a specialty (Kawamoto et al 2016). In addition, female medical students in particular choose a specialty based on the possibility of marriage and childbirth (Takahashi et al 2017). However, from the present results, we question the impact of work-life balance on career decisions.…”

The Tokyo Medical University entrance exam scandal: lessons learned

“…The survey, participated on by first-and sixth-year female and male medical students, included questions about their views of the manner in which female and male physicians are treated at work and factors that might influence female doctors' decisions to continue working in or leave the medical profession. Results indicated a belief that treatment would likely vary depending on the department in which one worked, but overall only a low percentage of the female students, especially those in their first year, believed male and female physicians received equal treatment (Takahashi et al 2017). Additionally, concerning circumstances affecting their medical career longevity, results of the study indicated that the female students believed that pregnancy and childbirth would be factors strongly influencing their decision to leave the workplace (Takahashi et al 2017).…”

“…Results indicated a belief that treatment would likely vary depending on the department in which one worked, but overall only a low percentage of the female students, especially those in their first year, believed male and female physicians received equal treatment (Takahashi et al 2017). Additionally, concerning circumstances affecting their medical career longevity, results of the study indicated that the female students believed that pregnancy and childbirth would be factors strongly influencing their decision to leave the workplace (Takahashi et al 2017). These factorsthe belief that they will not be treated as equals to their male co-workers and the assumption that their time in the workplace depends on their marital and/or child-rearing statusare strong deterrents from entering the world of medicine.…”

“…Moreover, they appear to be well aware of this situation. Results of a recent study surveying the work-life balance of female physicians indicate that female medical students seem resigned to the expectation that regardless of their situation in the workplace, housework and childcare are primarily their responsibility (Takahashi et al 2017). The survey, participated on by first-and sixth-year female and male medical students, included questions about their views of the manner in which female and male physicians are treated at work and factors that might influence female doctors' decisions to continue working in or leave the medical profession.…”

Workload and coping with stress and the health status of emergency medical staff in the context of work–life balance

“…Porównanie odmiennego postrzegania tematu WLB przez studentów obu płci przedstawili Takahashi i wsp. [13]. Bez względu na rodzaj przyszłej pracy studenci wykazywali odmienne podejście do angażowania się w nią w zależności od płci i roku studiów.…”