AOJPCH

Volume One - Dec  2002 -Number Two
     
JAPANESE PEDIATRIC BOARD CERTIFICATION:
HISTORY AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES


Nobutake Matsuo, M.D. (1), John Ichiro Takayama, M.D., M.P.H. (1), Shigehiko Kamoshita, M.D. (2)

(1) National Center for Child Health and Development
(2) Saniku-kai Hospital


Abstract

Objectives: The pediatric workforce in the Asia-Oceania region remains unknown. We describe the Japanese Pediatric Board Certification system and recent trends in the Japanese pediatric workforce as defined by board certification.

Method: To better define the Japanese pediatric workforce, pediatricians certified by the Japanese Pediatric Board were collectively identified. Characteristics of this workforce and trends between 1994 and 2002 were examined. A telephone survey of a subset of 842 pediatricians who started pediatric residency in 1987 and in 1990 was conducted to determine current work status.

Results: 4226 pediatricians received Board Certification in 1990-2002. During this period, the number of male pediatricians slightly decreased and that of female pediatricians steadily increased with the total number of pediatricians annually certified slightly increased.
Among the subset of 842 pediatricians, 49 (all women) were no longer in practice.

Conclusions: If the current trends continue, the cumulative number of Japanese pediatricians is likely to slowly increase in the next decade. Given the age and gender profiles of pediatricians in Japan, however, the current rate of board certification may not be sufficient to maintain a viable workforce. The premature retirement of women pediatricians requires further study.

Keywords: Japan, Board Certification, pediatric workforce, women pediatrician.


Corresponding author: Nobutake Matsuo, M.D.
Address: The National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Ohkura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 157-8535.
E-mail: matsuo-n@ncchd.go.jp.
Fax: 81-3-5727-1061 Tel: 81-3-3416-0181
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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