Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2018 January, 244(1), 7-14.

Exploring Attractiveness of the Basic Sciences for Female Physicians

YUKA YAMAZAKI,^1,2 SHINJI FUKUSHIMA,³ YUKI KOZONO,⁴ TAKANORI UKA⁵ and EIJI MARUI⁶

¹Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
²Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
³Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
⁴Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
⁵Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
⁶Department of Human Arts Sciences, University of Human Arts and Sciences, Saitama, Saitama, Japan

In Japan, traditional gender roles of women, especially the role of motherhood, may cause early career resignations in female physicians and a shortage of female researchers. Besides this gender issue, a general physician shortage is affecting basic science fields. Our previous study suggested that female physicians could be good candidates for the basic sciences because such work offers good work-life balance. However, the attractiveness for female physicians of working in the basic sciences, including work-life balance, is not known. In a 2012 nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey, female physicians holding tenured positions in the basic sciences at Japan's medical schools were asked an open-ended question about positive aspects of basic sciences that clinical medicine lacks, and we analyzed 58 respondents' comments. Qualitative analysis using the Kawakita Jiro method revealed four positive aspects: research attractiveness, priority on research productivity, a healthy work-life balance, and exemption from clinical duties. The most consistent positive aspect was research attractiveness, which was heightened by medical knowledge and clinical experience. The other aspects were double-edged swords; for example, while the priority on research productivity resulted in less gender segregation, it sometimes created tough competition, and while exemption from clinical duties contributed to a healthy work-life balance, it sometimes lowered motivation as a physician and provided unstable income. Overall, if female physicians lack an intrinsic interest in research and seek good work-life balance, they may drop out of research fields. Respecting and cultivating students' research interest is critical to alleviating the physician shortage in the basic sciences.

keywords —— basic sciences; female physicians; Japan; Kawakita Jiro method; research interest

© 2018 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2018, 244, 7-14

Correspondence: Yuka Yamazaki, Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.

e-mail: yuka28@tokyo-med.ac.jp