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Surgery Today
Published in: Surgery Today 1/2018

01-01-2018 | Original Article

Analysis of gender-based differences among surgeons in Japan: results of a survey conducted by the Japan Surgical Society. Part 1: Working style

Authors: Kazumi Kawase, Kyoko Nomura, Ryuji Tominaga, Hirotaka Iwase, Tomoko Ogawa, Ikuko Shibasaki, Mitsuo Shimada, Tomoaki Taguchi, Emiko Takeshita, Yasuko Tomizawa, Sachiyo Nomura, Kazuhiro Hanazaki, Tomoko Hanashi, Hiroko Yamashita, Norihiro Kokudo, Kotaro Maeda

Published in: Surgery Today | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the working styles of men and women working as surgeons in Japan.

Methods

In July, 2014, the Japan Surgical Society invited all their members (n = 29,861), through an internet campaign, to participate in a nationwide survey of surgeons. The items investigated in this descriptive study included demographic information and working styles, based on a questionnaire.

Results

In total, 6211 surgeons participated (response rate 20.8%, 5586 men and 625 women). The largest age stratum was 40–49 years for men and 30–39 years for women. Overall, respondents identified their labor contract, including salary and work hours, as the highest priority for improvement. Women with children were more likely to be part-time employees, work fewer hours, and take fewer house calls/on-calls than their male counterparts. Moreover, women of all ages earned a lower annual income than men, irrespective of whether they had children. Perception scores for discrimination related to work and promotion were significantly higher among women than men (p < 0.01 and p = 0.011, respectively).

Conclusions

A significant difference in working style was observed between men and women working as surgeons in Japan.
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Metadata
Title
Analysis of gender-based differences among surgeons in Japan: results of a survey conducted by the Japan Surgical Society. Part 1: Working style
Authors
Kazumi Kawase
Kyoko Nomura
Ryuji Tominaga
Hirotaka Iwase
Tomoko Ogawa
Ikuko Shibasaki
Mitsuo Shimada
Tomoaki Taguchi
Emiko Takeshita
Yasuko Tomizawa
Sachiyo Nomura
Kazuhiro Hanazaki
Tomoko Hanashi
Hiroko Yamashita
Norihiro Kokudo
Kotaro Maeda
Publication date
01-01-2018
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Surgery Today / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-1291
Electronic ISSN: 1436-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-017-1556-0

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