Abstract
In 2015, female doctors comprised 20% of all doctors in Japan, which was significantly lower than the average among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The proportion of female doctors in Japan aged 35-60 years decreased to 76% of those 25 years of age. This suggests that working environments for female doctors in Japan are not suitable for sustained work, returning to their jobs after leaves of absence, or developing their careers. Therefore, it is an urgent need to provide environments suitable for female doctors to work and develop their career. We five Japanese academic hospitalists conducted a narrative review about the efforts to improve career development and the working styles of female doctors in foreign countries. In addition, an interactive interview survey was conducted to clarify which among these measures were considered priorities for female hospitalists in Japan. Support for mother-hospitalists, development of a career path exclusively for female hospitalists, and establishment of leaders or role models for female hospitalists were the three important points. By focusing on these points, we hope to create safe, comfortable, and fulfilling working environments for all hospitalists, including female hospitalists.
