Attitudes toward overtime work and self‐training: A survey on obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan

Abstract

Aim The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan proposed a regulation of overtime work as a reform in work style. However, the regulation may deteriorate the quality of medical services due to the reduction in training time. Thus, the study aimed to reveal perceptions in terms of generation gaps in views on self‐training and overtime work, among members of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG). Methods A web‐based, self‐administered questionnaire survey was conducted among members of the JSOG. In total, 1256 respondents were included in the analysis. Data were collected on age, sex, experience as a medical doctor, location of workplace, work style, the type of main workplace, and number of full‐time doctors in the main workplace. The study examined the attitudes of the respondents toward overtime work and self‐training. The respondents were categorized based on experience as a medical doctor. Results According to years of experience, 112 (8.9%), 226 (18.0%), 383 (30.5%), 535 (42.6%) doctors have been working for ≤5, 6–10, 11–19, and ≥ 20 years, respectively. Although 54.5% of doctors with ≤5 years of experience expected the regulation on working hours to improve the quality of medical services, those with ≥20 years of experience expressed potential deterioration. After adjusting for covariates, more years of experience were significantly related with the expectation of deterioration in the quality of medical services. Conclusions The study revealed a generation gap in the views about self‐training and overtime work among obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan.

Challenges facing workstyle reform for Japanese obstetricians and gynecologists revealed from time studies

“…The survey revealed a generation gap in the views about self-training and overtime work among OB/GYN doctors in Japan. 5 In July 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) published the results of the "Survey of Working Hours in 140,000 Doctors" conducted in September 2019. According to the results, 11.8% of OB/GYN doctors in university hospitals work overtime more than 1860 h per year.…”

“…Then, in 2020, we conducted a survey on “Attitudes toward overtime work and self‐training among members of the JSOG.” The survey revealed a generation gap in the views about self‐training and overtime work among OB/GYN doctors in Japan 5 . In July 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) published the results of the “Survey of Working Hours in 140,000 Doctors” conducted in September 2019.…”

“Welcome to OBGYN World!” A novel recruitment event for medical students organized by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

“…There are many primary medical facilities in Japan, and the country's medical-care provision system is not integrated; thus, there is an uneven distribution of doctors across urban and rural areas. In addition, the number of female doctors in Japan has recently increased, which has resulted in a change of doctors' work style 2,3 ; the nature of these changes mean it may become difficult to maintain the current quality of perinatal care with the current number of OB-GYN specialists. Thus, it is necessary to further increase the number of OB-GYN specialists in Japan.…”