Working Conditions and Lifestyle of Female Surgeons Affiliated to the Japan Neurosurgical Society: Findings of Individual and Institutional Surveys

Takamitsu FUJIMAKI; Soichiro SHIBUI; Yoko KATO; Akira MATSUMURA; Mami YAMASAKI; Isao DATE; Kazuhiro HONGO; Satoshi KURODA; Mitsunori MATSUMAE; Naoyuki NAKAO; Kaori SAKURADA; Shoko SHIMOKAWA; Takamasa KAYAMA; On Behalf of The Gender Equality Committee of the Japan Neurosurgical Society

doi:10.2176/nmc.oa.2016-0119

Original Articles

Working Conditions and Lifestyle of Female Surgeons Affiliated to the Japan Neurosurgical Society: Findings of Individual and Institutional Surveys

Takamitsu FUJIMAKI, Soichiro SHIBUI, Yoko KATO, Akira MATSUMURA, Mami YAMASAKI, Isao DATE, Kazuhiro HONGO, Satoshi KURODA, Mitsunori MATSUMAE, Naoyuki NAKAO, Kaori SAKURADA, Shoko SHIMOKAWA, Takamasa KAYAMA, On Behalf of The Gender Equality Committee of the Japan Neurosurgical Society

Author information

Takamitsu FUJIMAKI
Department of Neurosurgery, Saitama Medical University Hospital
Soichiro SHIBUI
Department of Neurosurgery, Teikyo University Hospital
Yoko KATO
Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Banbuntane Stroke Center, Fujita Health University Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital
Akira MATSUMURA
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
Mami YAMASAKI
Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Takatsuki General Hospital
Isao DATE
Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Kazuhiro HONGO
Department of Neurosurgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine
Satoshi KURODA
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Toyama
Mitsunori MATSUMAE
Department of Neurosurgery, Tokai University School of Medicine
Naoyuki NAKAO
Department of Neurological Surgery, Wakayama Medical University
Kaori SAKURADA
Department of Neurosurgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine
Shoko SHIMOKAWA
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University
Takamasa KAYAMA
Department of Advanced Cancer Center, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine
On Behalf of The Gender Equality Committee of the Japan Neurosurgical Society

Keywords: work–life balance, female neurosurgeon, questionnaire

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2016 Volume 56 Issue 11 Pages 704-708

DOI https://doi.org/10.2176/nmc.oa.2016-0119

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Details

Abstract

To investigate the working conditions of female neurosurgeons in Japan, two surveys were conducted by The Japan Neurosurgical Society: one involving female neurosurgeons themselves and the other involving the chiefs of neurosurgical departments. The responses were received from 224 (43.8%) female neurosurgeons and 496 (61.2%) departmental chiefs. About half (50.2%) of the female neurosurgeons were married and 39.2% had children (average number of children, 1.27). Their work was full-time in 80.6% of cases; on average, they worked 51.9 h per week, had night duty 2.8 times per month, and had 5.7 days off per month. Many of them stated that they were satisfied with their job status, but about half of them reported difficulty in maintaining a correct work–life balance. Among the institutions surveyed, 29% had female neurosurgeons. The survey of departmental chiefs revealed that the proxies for maternity leave were not available at most institutions, and that there was only limited availability of night child care (41%) or sick child care (39%); female neurosurgeons did not appear to be well-informed of these support systems. These findings suggest that apart from systematic approaches already in place, female neurosurgeons would prefer to have more understanding from their peers and chiefs.

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