Job Characteristics Affecting Japanese Surgeons' Satisfaction Levels

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Workforce Studies
• Physician Job Satisfaction

Background:

• Declining interest in surgical careers in Japan is linked to demanding work environments and compensation issues.
• Surgeons may have unique job perceptions compared to physicians in other specialties.
• Understanding these differences is key to addressing the surgical workforce shortage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare job perceptions between surgeons and physicians in other specialties in Japan.
• To identify specific aspects of surgical careers that may deter medical graduates.
• To inform strategies for improving the surgical work environment.

Main Methods:

• An email-based survey was distributed to 415 Japanese physicians.
• The questionnaire utilized a modified Hackman and Oldham tool assessing seven job dimensions.
• Data were analyzed comparing surgical and non-surgical specialties, and by hospital type.

Main Results:

• Surgeons reported higher scores for ethics, task significance, dealing with others, and job feedback compared to other specialties.
• Surgeons had lower perceived autonomy than other physicians.
• Autonomy scores were significantly lower for surgeons in university hospitals versus community hospitals.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in job perceptions between surgeons and other physicians, particularly concerning ethical considerations and task significance.
• The lower perceived autonomy among surgeons, especially in academic settings, warrants attention.
• Improving working conditions and addressing perception gaps are essential to prevent surgeon burnout and encourage surgical training.