Exploring sex differences in Korean emergency physicians using nationwide survey

¹연세대학교 원주세브란스기독병원 응급의학과
²연세대학교 원주의과대학 의학교육학과
³인제대학교 부산백병원 응급의학과
⁴가톨릭대학교 여의도성모병원 응급의학과
⁵명지병원 응급의학과
⁶KS병원 응급의학과
⁷동아대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실
⁸순천향대학교 서울병원 응급의학과
⁹경북대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실
¹⁰인제대학교 인문의학연구소
¹¹울산대학교 의과대학 예방의학과
¹²경희대학교병원 응급의학과
¹³창원경상대학교병원 응급의학과
¹⁴을지대학교 노원을지병원 응급의학과
¹⁵고려대학교 구로병원 응급의학과
¹⁶여수전남병원 응급의학과
¹⁷화홍병원 응급의학과
¹⁸연세대학교 대학원 의학통계학과

Kyung Su Bae¹

, Kyung Hye Park^1,2

, Yoo Sang Yoon^3,10

, Eu Sun Lee¹¹

, Daesung Lim¹³

, Kwang Hyun Cho¹⁴

, Youngmin Joo¹⁵

, Chang Gun Jee¹⁶

, Suk Jae Choi¹⁷

, JaeHun Han¹⁸

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju, Korea
²Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
³Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea
⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
⁵Department of Emergency Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea
⁶Department of Emergency Medicine, KS Hospital, Gwangju, Korea
⁷Department of Emergency Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
⁸Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea
⁹Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
¹⁰The Institute for Medical Humanities, Inje University, Busan, Korea
¹¹Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
¹²Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
¹³Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea
¹⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
¹⁵Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea
¹⁶Department of Emergency Medicine, Yeosu Jeonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea
¹⁷Department of Emergency Medicine, Hwahong Hospital, Suwon, Korea
¹⁸Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea

Correspondence

Kyung Hye Park ,Tel: 033-741-0242, Fax: 033-742-5034, Email: erdoc74@gmail.com,

Received: June 1, 2021; Revised: September 26, 2021 Accepted: September 28, 2021. Published online: August 31, 2022.

ABSTRACT

Objective:
In this study, we compared differences based on the gender of Korean emergency physicians to provide basic data for future emergency medicine development plans.
Method:
We used data from the emergency physician survey (2020) conducted by the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine. A total of 1,303 emergency physicians responded to the survey. We adjusted demographic data relating to age, position, and work duration as an emergency physician, which could affect the differences based on gender. After propensity score matching, we compared working hours, work burden, income, motives for applying for emergency medicine, and future plans of the emergency physicians by sex.
Results:
The total working hours per month and night shifts per month were higher in men compared to the women. The women felt more pressure in the following areas: number of emergency patients, relationships with administrative agencies, insufficient emergency medical technician manpower, patients’ compliance, and relationships with other emergency physicians. Monthly income was higher in men. Women placed a higher value on ‘Acquiring a range of knowledge’ and ‘Degree of interest in working in the emergency room’ than men as motivation for applying for positions in emergency medicine. Regarding future plans, women placed less value on income and more on having enough free time and avoiding burnout. The retirement age was about 3 years lower for women than for men.
Conclusion:
This study revealed gender differences in working hours, income, motivation for applying for emergency medicine, work burden, and future plans. It is expected that these differences are caused by physical limitations and socio-cultural backgrounds. It is recommended that more detailed investigations be carried out through qualitative research. These results could help in gender considerations while hiring emergency physicians.

Key words: Emergency medicine; Republic of Korea; Sex differences; Sex characteristics; Female