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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0International Journal of Clinical Oncology

Working conditions, career barriers and perceived equity among neuro-oncology professionals: insights from the Japan society for neuro-oncology (JSNO) gender equality and diversity committee survey

  • Akiko Higuchi1
  • Kaoru Tamura2
  • Yuko Watanabe3
  • Tatsuya Abe4
  • Mitsutoshi Nakada5
  • Shota Tanaka6
  • Yoshiko Okita7
  • Motoo Nagane8
  • Yuichi Hirose9
  • Takamitsu Fujimaki10
10 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  2. 2Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Science Tokyo, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519 Japan
  3. 3Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
  4. 4Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
  5. 5Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
  6. 6Department of Neurological Surgery, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan
  7. 7Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
  8. 8Department of Neurosurgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  9. 9Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
  10. 10Department of Neurosurgery, Saitama Medical University Hospital, Saitama, Japan
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Abstract

Background: Gender equity, work-life balance, and career development have become important concerns in the medical profession. However, empirical evidence on how neuro-oncology professionals experience working conditions, career barriers, and perceived inequity remains limited.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey of members of the Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology (JSNO) to evaluate working conditions, career-related concerns, job satisfaction, perceived workplace discrimination, and organizational challenges.

Results: Among 292 respondents (response rate, 35.9%), the mean weekly working time was 56.7 h, and 45.5% worked ≥ 60 h per week. Women were markedly underrepresented in managerial/leadership positions (6.7% vs. 47.3%) and were more likely to hold part-time positions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that female sex was independently associated with greater perceived workplace discrimination (OR 2.71, 95% CI [1.23–5.98], p = 0.013), after adjustment for working hours, caregiving experience, and managerial/leadership position. An age-by sex interaction was observed for career-related concerns: these increased with age among women but decreased among men. Longer working hours were associated with lower satisfaction with income, working hours, and work-life balance. Although workplace support systems are widely available, substantial perceptual gaps and workload redistribution challenges were identified.

Conclusion: These findings highlight persistent gender disparities and structural workforce challenges in Japanese neuro-oncology, underscoring the need for institutional strategies to promote sustainable workforce development and gender equity.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{higuchi2026working,
  title = {{Working conditions, career barriers and perceived equity among neuro-oncology professionals: insights from the Japan society for neuro-oncology (JSNO) gender equality and diversity committee survey}},
  author = {Akiko Higuchi and Kaoru Tamura and Yuko Watanabe and Tatsuya Abe and Mitsutoshi Nakada and Shota Tanaka and Yoshiko Okita and Motoo Nagane and Yuichi Hirose and Takamitsu Fujimaki},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical Oncology},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Working conditions, career barriers and perceived equity among neuro-oncology professionals: insights from the Japan society for neuro-oncology (JSNO) gender equality and diversity committee survey
AU  - Akiko Higuchi
AU  - Kaoru Tamura
AU  - Yuko Watanabe
AU  - Tatsuya Abe
AU  - Mitsutoshi Nakada
AU  - Shota Tanaka
AU  - Yoshiko Okita
AU  - Motoo Nagane
AU  - Yuichi Hirose
AU  - Takamitsu Fujimaki
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/18
JO  - International Journal of Clinical Oncology
DO  - 10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y
AB  - Background: Gender equity, work-life balance, and career development have become important concerns in the medical profession. However, empirical evidence on how neuro-oncology professionals experience working conditions, career barriers, and perceived inequity remains limited.  Methods: We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey of members of the Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology (JSNO) to evaluate working conditions, career-related concerns, job satisfaction, perceived workplace discrimination, and organizational challenges.  Results: Among 292 respondents (response rate, 35.9%), the mean weekly working time was 56.7 h, and 45.5% worked ≥ 60 h per week. Women were markedly underrepresented in managerial/leadership positions (6.7% vs. 47.3%) and were more likely to hold part-time positions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that female sex was independently associated with greater perceived workplace discrimination (OR 2.71, 95% CI [1.23–5.98], p = 0.013), after adjustment for working hours, caregiving experience, and managerial/leadership position. An age-by sex interaction was observed for career-related concerns: these increased with age among women but decreased among men. Longer working hours were associated with lower satisfaction with income, working hours, and work-life balance. Although workplace support systems are widely available, substantial perceptual gaps and workload redistribution challenges were identified.  Conclusion: These findings highlight persistent gender disparities and structural workforce challenges in Japanese neuro-oncology, underscoring the need for institutional strategies to promote sustainable workforce development and gender equity.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-026-03168-y.
SN  - 1341-9625
SN  - 1437-7772
ER  -