Determinants of Long Working Hours Among Obstetrics and Gynecology Nurses and Midwives in Japan: A National...

Background/Objectives: Nursing staff face mentally and physically demanding work environments in the obstetrics and gynecology departments in hospitals. This study elucidated the working hours of midwives and nurses in these departments and the background factors influencing them. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational cross-sectional design. A questionnaire-based survey targeting nursing personnel working in the obstetrics and gynecology departments in hospitals across Japan was conducted. The respondents' attributes, working hours, number of night shifts, and other employment conditions were described. To identify the background factors of long working hours, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using working hours ≥50 h per week as dependent variables and respondents' attributes and employment conditions as explanatory variables. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 1170 hospitals, and valid responses were obtained from 2043 nursing personnel in 474 hospitals. Working ≥50 and ≥60 h per week were observed in 15.5% and 3.6% of the respondents, respectively, and 54.2% reported working night shifts ≥5 times monthly. Background factors strongly correlated with working ≥50 h per week among nursing staff included being in their 40s, licensed practical nurses, or a head nurse; having 5-8 night shifts per month; and working in hospitals with a total bed count of 200-400, 400-600, or 600-800, as well as ≥10 full-time physicians, ≥10 or an unknown number of advanced practice midwives, and >400 inpatient midwifery delivery cases annually. Conclusions: Urgent interventions are needed to reduce the workload of nursing staff in the obstetrics and gynecology departments of Japanese hospitals.