title: Current problems and working status of female anesthesiologists in Japan.
abstract: The rapid growth of the elderly population and the progress in surgical techniques in Japan have led to increased numbers of patients who undergo surgery. Anesthetics are essential for surgery. A survey conducted by the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists showed that, during the past 10 years, the proportion of females among all the members has increased from 27 to 35 %, and the proportion of female councilors has risen from 3.9 to 6.7 %. However, the conditions of full-time employment remain inadequate for female physicians. Therefore, many female physicians in their 30s or older do not work as anesthesiologists. To support female anesthesiologists and their vital roles in surgical diagnosis and treatment, return-to-work assistance programs have been developed. It is also necessary to improve the working conditions for female anesthesiologists to allow them to continue their work, and to provide education for young female physicians to enhance their professional pride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Center East, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 2-1-10 Nishiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8567, Japan, komorim@nifty.com.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Mitsuharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodaka
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomizawa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010819:Physician's Role; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D062707:Return to Work; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D013997:Time Factors; D014830:Vocational Guidance / Q000639:trends; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace