title: Mentorship as Experienced by Women Surgeons in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women have accounted for over 30% of new medical students since 1995 in Japan. Establishing support systems for women surgeons to continue their work is a major issue in Japan. Mentorship can be one of the most effective means to help women surgeons to continue their work. The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status of mentorship among Japanese women surgeons and to discuss the role of mentors for women surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Invitation letters were sent to all female members of the Japan Association of Women Surgeons in April 2011. An 84-item questionnaire survey was sent to those who agreed to participate in this study via the internet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five surgeons participated in this study, a response rate of 48.7%. Sixty-seven percent of respondents found it difficult to continue in their job; 85% thought mentorship was necessary for women surgeons to progress in their careers; and 84% reported that they already had a mentor. Respondents thought that a mentor helped them to advance their clinical career, to stay in their job, and to provide moral support. However, mentors appeared to be less useful in helping them to advance their research career, to network, to increase their status, and to achieve a work-life balance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed areas where mentors appeared to be less helpful to women surgeons. The survey gave an indication of how to help improve and develop the career and personal life of women surgeons in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kawasaki Municipal Hospital, 12-1 Shinkawa-dori, Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, 210-0013, Japan. kyorozuya@green.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yorozuya
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawase
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, School of Medicine, Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akashi-Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Chizuko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanbayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007564:Japan; D008611:Mentors; D010822:Physicians, Women; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D066231:Surgeons / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires