Survey on Research Themes among Young Radiation Protection Professionals in Japan

Background: Studies conducted among young professionals in the field of radiation protection thus far have not focused on the research environment or themes relevant to these professionals. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the demographics, research environments, and research themes of the Young Researchers Association (YRA) of the Japanese Health Physics Society to address the gaps in previous surveys, so as to provide foundational information for academic and government organizations to frame policies supporting the development and research activities of young researchers.Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire was distributed to YRA members between July and November 2023. The responses received were analyzed using Pearson’s chisquare test to identify factors influencing job satisfaction, intention to continue for 5 years, and research opportunities, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.Results and Discussion: Out of 126 YRA members, 66 responded, of whom 77.3% were male; 89.4% of the respondents held permanent employment positions. Approximately 65.3% of the respondents were involved in ‘dosimetry’ and ‘applications’ research and 10% focused on ‘effects’ and ‘medicine.’ A significant relationship was found between ‘intent to continue job’ and ‘employment type;’ however, no significant link was found between job satisfaction and research funding. ‘Age’ was significantly associated with research opportunities, while sex and employment type were not.Conclusion: These findings suggest the importance of supporting a wide range of research areas rather than focusing on a single theme. Increasing research opportunities for young researchers through initiatives such as mentorship programs or competitive research grants could foster the further development of radiation protection research.