Transition towards the new normal.

Abstract

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash. The increased incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections marks the beginning of the eighth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Japan. Despite measures against infection, the Omicron variant has spread and caused hospital outbreak clusters in the Respiratory Medicine Ward of our hospital. As a ward manager, I have been struggling with infection control. The prolonged COVID-19 epidemic has brought about a new normal, including positive changes. Despite the Japanese government's policies to promote gender equality, Japan's gender gap index ranking was 116th out of 146 countries in 2022, remaining the lowest among developed countries (https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2022/). The rate of women leaving their jobs after childbirth is considerably high in the medical field. This is likely due to women typically being responsible for the majority of housework and childcare, as well as long working hours and the work demands of a primary care physician in hospitals related to the exclusivity of the patient-doctor relationship, among other factors (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.14172). However, the COVID-19 epidemic has prompted a transition into a new normal. A team-based approach was established to deal with sudden illnesses of medical staff. Hybrid or on-demand academic congresses have eliminated the need to travel to attend even international conferences, enabling many more doctors and researchers to maintain their expertise. Male as well as female doctors are now more likely to take time off to look after their families. My own husband has realized that we should share equal responsibility for our family: ‘Who will look after the children if my wife is infected? A nanny? Our elderly parents? No, it's me’. The rapid, widespread use of the web or online meetings has also greatly changed part of my work. In 2019, the Japanese Respiratory Society nominated me to join a team of young researchers (the Empowering Next Generation Allergist/Immunologist Toward Global Excellence Task Force Toward 2030). I had initially intended to refuse the offer because I could not feasibly attend frequent meetings in Tokyo. However, with the COVID-19 epidemic, meetings were changed from in-person to online; this made working as part of the team more accessible for me. In addition, it has become easier to conduct multicentre clinical studies. Project kick-off meetings can be organized online; long distance is no longer a barrier. Although not yet ubiquitous, telemedicine and telerehabilitation are gaining attention due to the COVID-19 epidemic. I hope that similar positive changes will continue in the post-COVID-19 era to create the next new normal. None declared.