A retrospective observational study analyzing work and study motivation based on the work environment of 15,677 Japanese clinicians in 2016

Physicians play an active role in public health. However, there is a limit to the knowledge and experience that can be gained through hospital work alone. This was a secondary data analysis from 100,000 doctors in Japan (15,677 respondents). The results of the analysis showed that 898 (8.4%) male and 190 (6.0%) female doctors worked 60 h or more in a week. The percentage of physicians whose spouse was a physician was found to be 31.4% (male) and 61.7% (female) (p < 0.001), and the rate of full-time working clinicians was 85.7% (male) and 30.0% (female) (p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, female's working hours were affected by childbirth and childcare experience (p < 0.001, 95% CI - 10.3 to - 8.4, with none as reference) and specialty certification (p < 0.001, 95% CI - 3.5 to - 1.4, with none as reference). In the multivariate analysis, physician's working hours were associated with sex (coefficient, - 7.4; 95% CI - 8.3 to - 6.5, with male as reference), childbirth/childcare (coefficient, - 2.2; 95% CI - 2.9 to - 1.4, with possession as reference), and specialty qualification (coefficient - 4.0, 95% CI - 5.0 to - 3.0, with possession as reference). To summarize the results of the analysis, work/study motivation of physicians will be facilitated by ensuring adequate learning opportunities and by developing support systems and environments.

Automated summary

Physicians play an active role in public health, but hospital work alone does not provide enough knowledge and experience. This study analyzed data from 100,000 doctors in Japan and found that gender, childbirth/childcare experience, and specialty qualification were associated with physicians' working hours. Ensuring adequate learning opportunities and developing support systems and environments can enhance physicians' work/study motivation.