Practice locations of physicians with highly educated spouses in Japan: A cross‐sectional study using National Census Data

Abstract

Abstract Background Having highly educated spouses may influence physicians' choice of practice location. Methods We analyzed a representative physician sample in the 2020 Japan Population Census. Results Regression analyses adjusting for physicians' characteristics showed that physicians married to highly educated (with a graduate degree) spouses were less likely to practice in low physician supply areas (LPSAs) than other married physicians (adjusted, 7.8% vs. 9.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72–0.98). Conclusion Having highly educated spouses was associated with a lower likelihood of practicing in LPSAs. Qualitative research is needed to explore how spousal academic attainment influences physicians' practice location choices.

Keywords

• dual‐career marriages
• health policy
• homogamy
• physician distribution
• physician work‐life balance