ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Equality in training opportunities, studying abroad, and satisfaction with work are not well investigated among Japanese cardiologists.MethodsâandâResults: We studied cardiologists' career development using a questionnaire that was emailed to 14,798 cardiologists belonging to the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) in September 2022. Feelings regarding equality in training opportunities, preferences for studying abroad, and satisfaction with work were evaluated with regard to cardiologists' age, sex, and other confounding factors. Survey responses were obtained from 2,566 cardiologists (17.3%). The mean (±SD) age of female (n=624) and male (n=1,942) cardiologists who responded to the survey was 45.6±9.5 and 50.0±10.6 years, respectively. Inequality in training opportunities was felt more by female than male cardiologists (44.1% vs. 33.9%) and by younger (<45 years old) than older (≥45 years old) (42.0% vs. 32.8%). Female cardiologists were less likely to prefer studying abroad (53.7% vs. 59.9%) and less satisfied with their work (71.3% vs. 80.8%) than male cardiologists. Increased feelings of inequality and lower work satisfaction were investigated among cardiologists who were young, had family care duties, and had no mentors. In the subanalysis, significant regional differences were found in cardiologists' career development in Japan. CONCLUSIONS: Female and younger cardiologists felt greater inequality in career development than male and older cardiologists. A diverse workplace may prompt equality in training opportunities and work satisfaction for both female and male cardiologists.
Subject(s)
Cardiologists , Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Japan , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workplace , Job SatisfactionABSTRACT
Background: The Japanese Circulation Society survey revealed that Japanese female cardiologists exhibited a trend to refuse the chairperson position; however, the causal factors remain uncertain. MethodsâandâResults: We distributed a questionnaire survey among chairpersons of the Chugoku regional meeting in November 2022. The rate of chair acceptance at the annual meeting tended to increase as the chairperson's experience grew (first time chairing a meeting, 25.0%; 2-3 times, 33.3%; 4-5 times, 53.8%; ≥6 times, 70.0%; P=0.021). Conclusions: Providing inexperienced members with the chance to perform the role of chairperson will lead to them accepting to chair annual meetings.
ABSTRACT
Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a widely advocated strategy to improve outcomes at end-of-life care for patients suffering from heart failure (HF). However, finding the right time to start ACP is challenging for healthcare providers because it is often a sensitive issue for patients with HF and their families. We interviewed patients with cardiovascular diseases regarding ACP readiness and investigated the relationship between the ACP desire and multiple clinical prognostic parameters. Method: Eighty-one patients (average age 81.8 ± 10.3 years old, 42 men, 62 cases of HF) who introduced cardiac rehabilitation were inquired about previous ACP experience, a desire for ACP, understanding of their cardiovascular diseases, and lifestyle-associated questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the clinical parameters associated with ACP desire. Patients who desired ACP were also asked about their preferences for medical care at the end-of-life. Results: Nine patients (11.1%) had previous experience with ACP, and 28 (34.6%) preferred to implement ACP. Patients who did not want to implement ACP were 54.3%. Patients with HF showed a higher acceptance rate of ACP (odds ratio [OR] 5.56, p = 0.015). Interestingly, patients harboring skeletal muscle frailty showed lower ACP acceptance, while patients with non-frailty rather positively wanted to implement ACP. Two types of prognosis evaluation scales, such as the Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment (EFFECT) risk score and the Japanese Version of Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT-JP), identified 31 patients (38.3%) needing ACP; however, 19 (61.3%) did not want ACP. The wish not to attempt resuscitation and life-prolonging treatment at the end-of-life reached approximately 70% among patients who requested ACP. Conclusions: Although patients with HF tended to be ready for implementing ACP, the presence of skeletal muscle frailty was negatively associated with ACP preference. Indeed, patients who should be considered ACP were not carried out and did not desire it. Earlier introduction of ACP into patients before having skeletal muscle frailty may be considered.
ABSTRACT
Background: Various issues, such as gender diversity and overwork, need to be considered in cardiovascular workplaces. Here, we report the results of 2 questionnaire surveys conducted among members of the Chugoku branch of the Japanese Circulation Society. MethodsâandâResults: The first questionnaire was posted to all 194 female members in 2018. Of the 73 respondents, 61.6% reported feeling that it would be difficult to continue in cardiovascular care. The second questionnaire was completed by participants of the Chugoku Regional Meeting in 2019. Of the 133 respondents, 42.4% reported difficulties continuing in cardiovascular care. Respondents reporting difficulties had a significantly lower mean age, a higher frequency of day and night shifts, and a higher rate of working >80 h/week than respondents who did not report such difficulties. In logistic regression analysis, working >80 h/week was the only independent factor associated with difficulties continuing in cardiovascular care (odds ratio 4.16; 95% confidence interval 1.46-11.9; P=0.008). Although 47.4% of respondents worked >960 h overtime per year (considered a risk factor for death from overwork), 59.6% of these respondents reported being satisfied with their current situation. Conclusions: In the Chugoku region, the work-life balance of medical personnel engaged in cardiovascular care has not been sufficiently secured. In order to promote diverse human resources, we need to recognize the current situation and continue to take countermeasures.
