ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted in November 2001 with a questionnaire entitled "Survey Report on International Cooperation" compiled by the International Affairs of the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA). The survey focused on member awareness of the importance of international cooperation by sending the questionnaire to its entire membership. Replies were received from approximately 15.6% of the membership or, to be exact, 1,353 JSA members. The survey produced several remarkable findings, which are as follows: 57.8% of the respondents are interested in international cooperation, 86.8% regard international cooperation as necessary, and 38.4% are willing to participate in international cooperation. Those who have actually engaged in international cooperation in the past account for only 7.5%, indicating that there are a good number of members who have not had a chance to provide assistance in international cooperation, their willingness notwithstanding. Regarding their employers' levels of understanding of this issue, 30.6% responded that their managements either recommend active participation or approve of the respondents' intention. Another 24.9% replied that their managements agreed to their participation on condition that they do so privately. Thus, a total of 55.5% of the respondents have permission to participate in international cooperation. Regarding the level of understanding from family members, 41.2% replied that their families agree to their desire irrespective of whether or not their services overseas are relevant to their profession. This figure became 72.4% when their services abroad would be relevant to their profession. On the other hand, 16.0% of the respondents (216 members) stated that they have no interest in international cooperation. For the reasons, 38.8% replied that the issue cannot be viewed as a matter worthy of immediate attention, 10.2% replied that it is not their problem, and 24.1% replied that this will involve dangers. When questioned about their overall impressions from actual participation in international cooperation in the past, among the 102 members responding, 88.2% said they are satisfied with what they have done, 4.9% were undecided as to whether or not they are satisfied, while none of them responded negatively about their services. Of those who are satisfied with their services, as many as 54.4% found their services "worthy of the time spent because of all the excitement involved and because each activity involved work other than their own profession," and 40.0% found them "worthy of their time and labor." Particularly noteworthy is the fact that 6.7% now consider activities in international cooperation "their divinely appointed work in life," and 65.7% hope to participate in international cooperation again. From these findings, it can be deduced that there are few obstacles to the members' international cooperation and that JSA's potential as a promoter of international cooperation may be highly estimated.
