Introduction : While the number of women physicians is increasing in Japan, there is a tendency for these physicians to leave the workforce during their child-rearing years, contributing to an overall physician shortage. In order to create effective policies to ameliorate these shortages, it is important to assess women medical students' views on their careers after marriage and the factors that lead to a low motivation for continuation of their careers..
Methods : From 2010 to 2012, we conducted questionnaire surveys using visual analog scale (VAS) based and multiple choice questions on medical students at the University of Tokushima regarding these issues in women physicians. We analyzed the results of questions included in each of these three-year surveys for women medical students in the first, third and sixth year and men in their sixth year..
Results : VAS results for “intention to continue career after marriage” showed shorter measurements in sixth year women (median 86.5mm, interquartile range (IQR) 64-97mm) compared to sixth year men (median 98mm, IQR 92.5-100mm) (p<0.001). Sixth year women with a VAS of 75mm or under for “intention to continue career” showed less “interest in a medical career” than those with a VAS of 80mm or greater (median 79.5mm (IQR 64.5-88.5) vs. 90.5mm (IQR 82-100)) (p=0.001). All student groups analyzed indicated that a “sense of purpose” was the most important factor in their future careers.
Conclusion : Lower VAS levels for “the intention to continue career after marriage” were related to a lower level for “interest in a medical career” in women medical students, which has implications for education and guidance in the undergraduate years.