Work hours, appraisal at work, and intention to leave the medical research workforce in Japan.

ABSTRACT: Objectives Strengthening the research workforce is essential to safeguard public health and human lives. This study examined the associations of work hours and perceived performance appraisal with the intention to leave the medical research workforce. Methods This cross-sectional study used data collected from medical researchers between December 2022 and January 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to participants via all 141 societies of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences. Weekly work hours were self-reported using 10 response options. Perceived appraisal of research performance at work was assessed using six response options and dichotomized into inappropriately appraised (slightly disagree/totally disagree) and the rest. Intention to leave the research workforce was also self-reported and dichotomized. We calculated multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for intention to leave, according to work hours and perceived appraisal. Results Of 3139 participants (852 women), most (n = 686) worked 60-79 hours weekly. One in four (n = 745) felt inappropriately appraised, and 11% (n = 356) intended to leave. A U-shaped association was observed between work hour and intention to leave (adjusted OR: 2.05 [95% confidence interval: 1.12, 3.73] for weekly working 100 hours or longer), although the quadratic trend was not significant (P = 0.15). The inappropriately appraised group had 3.6 times (95% confidence interval: 2.81, 4.58) higher ORs of intending to leave than compared with counterparts. Conclusions The present results suggest that researchers who work long hours and feel inappropriately appraised were more likely to consider leaving the medical research workforce.

SUBMITTER: Kuwahara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12397488 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature