Pediatricians' Perspectives on Task Shifting in Pediatric Care: A Nationwide Survey in Japan.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In Japan, task shifting reduces the working hours of pediatricians, who face excessive workloads. The status of task shifting under the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare's reforms remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the current status and barriers of task shifting in pediatric care in Japan. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among pediatricians working in hospitals in Japan. The results were compared with those from 2020. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 835 hospitals, and valid responses were received from 815 pediatricians in 316 hospitals (response rate: 37.8%). The largest group (31.0%) was 40-49 years, and 34.4% of the participants were women. Among the items surveyed, most pediatricians indicated "shifted" in "Patient transfer (transporting between hospitals using an ambulance)" and "Intravenous injection of antibiotics." Most physicians believed task shifting improved care quality; 10.3% felt it worsened. The most common estimate for daily working hour reduction due to task shifting was "1 to <2 h" (44.9%). Precisely 15.8% of pediatricians believed that task shifting had "not progressed at all," with rural areas and non-university hospitals showing lower task-shifting implementation. National university hospitals had a higher likelihood of task shifting than public hospitals. No significant associations were observed for the total hospital bed count or the number of full-time pediatricians. Conclusions: Task shifting in pediatric care remains underdeveloped. While many pediatricians support the concept and report modest reductions in working hours, actual implementation remains limited. Future efforts must address systemic, institutional, and regulatory challenges to facilitate meaningful task redistribution and improve healthcare delivery.