The working status of Japanese female physicians by area of practice: Cohort analysis of taking leave, returning to work, and changing specialties from 1984 to 2004

Background The percentage of females in the physician workforce is increasing in Japan, as in other countries; however, the working status of female physicians has not been sufficiently investigated. Methods Original data were obtained from the National Survey of Physicians (NSP) conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, from 1984 to 2004. We examined the trend of female physicians’ areas of practice and analyzed their leave, return to work, and change in areas of practice using cohort data. Results The percentage of female physicians has increased significantly in recent generations, especially in surgery, surgical subareas of practice, and obstetrics and gynecology. A remarkable increase was found in obstetrics and gynecology among women under 29 years old from 15.4 to 66.2%. The total number of female physicians on leave has been higher than the number of female physicians returning since 1998. The average percentage of those who changed their area of practice was high in surgery (20.7%) and low in pediatrics (5.0%) and obstetrics and gynecology (1.7%). Conclusions A strategic plan is needed for future health policy to plan for the physician workforce, especially for the areas of practice with increasing proportions of young female physicians.