Working Environment of Cardiovascular Surgeons in Japan:A Survey of Work Hours, Payment, and Task-Shifting

Ikuko Shibasaki＊1,＊2)	Akihiko Usui＊1,＊3)	Shigeki Morita＊1,＊4)
Hitoshi Yokoyama＊5,＊6)

（The Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, Surgical Doctor Activity Support Committee and Gender Equality WG＊1), Tokyo, Japan, Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine＊2), Tochigi, Japan, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine＊3), Nagoya, Japan, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center＊4), Fukuoka, Japan, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fukushima Medical University＊5), Fukushima, Japan, and The Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, Chief Director＊6)）

Purpose:Recently, the Japanese government has promoted reform of working practices. The working environment of medical professionals was no exception. In the present study, we investigated the current working environment and issues of cardiovascular surgeons, who are supposed to be working in one of the most demanding circumstances in Japan. Methods:In December 2018, the Japanese Society for Cardiovascular Surgery（JSCVS）sent a questionnaire to all JSCVS members via the internet to obtain basic data on the working environment including working hours, working items, income, and the issues to be solved for cardiovascular surgeons in Japan. Results:The JSCVS received responses from 634 cardiovascular surgeons（response rate 17%, 589 males/38 females). Respondents were primarily mid-career surgeons in their age of 40s and 50s. Four hundred seventy-three respondents（75.5%）and 176 respondents（28.2%）answered that they worked an average of 60 and 80h a week, respectively. In addition, 249 respondents（40.4%）reported receiving no allowance for on-call work during off hours, after midnight, or on a holiday, while 345 respondents（56.6%）reported receiving no allowance for emergency surgery during off hours, after midnight, or on a holiday. Conclusion:Over 75% of cardiovascular surgeons reported being overworked without receiving an appropriate amount of income. Along with the reform of working style being made for the Japanese people, improving the working environment of cardiovascular surgeons is also an urgent matter to maintain healthcare for cardiovascular disease. Facilitating understanding of the issue by the Japanese people is of the utmost importance for the JSCVS.

 

Jpn. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 49:1-11（2020）

Keywords：cardiovascular surgeon;reform of working style;task shifting;incentive