ABSTRACT
The issue of physician migration taking an important part in the brain drain is one of the focal points of the human resources policies in health. This issue is more important for countries like Turkey, where there is a shortage of physicians. The objective of this study is to research the reasons that could affect the migration preferences and to provide a basis to develop alternative policies to decrease the physician migration. For this purpose, the opinions of the physicians, who have newly graduated from the faculties of medicine in Turkey and haven't started working yet, about working or speciality studying in homeland or abroad are investigated. All newly graduated physicians were included in the study via online questionnaire. Variables that could be related to desire to study or work abroad were analyzed through logistic regression. 54.6% of the newly graduated physicians had a desire to study [Specialty/Ph.D.] or work abroad. However, only 22.6% of physicians who inclined to migrate have partially or completely made an attempt. Male physicians were more eager to emigrate. The physicians whose level of foreign language is very good were also more eager to study/work abroad. Researching the reasons of the physicians to go abroad is very important to decrease the physician migration or turning it into an advantage. Therefore, the findings of this study and similar studies should be taken into consideration and the migration policies should be reviewed in this direction. Moreover, a systematic migration record system should be established and information sharing about the migration should be provided quickly in both our country and the countries of origin
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to analyze the views of new graduate physicians on compulsory service. This is an important study because it is the first study on the views of new graduate physicians on compulsory service prior to their employment in Turkey. This study was conducted in Turkey in August 2008. All new graduate physicians prior to employment were included in the study, who filled out online questionnaires [Response Rate = 65.9%]. Variables impacted physicians' views on compulsory service were analyzed. The total number of physicians tends to be less in relatively underdeveloped areas. A total of 49.0% of physicians found the practice of compulsory service useful. There is a statistically significant relationship between the views on the efficiency and need for compulsory service, and the choice of being a physician, regretting being a physician after being employed, and the views on solutions toward the maldistribution of physicians [P<.05]. The practice of compulsory service is beneficial for balancing the physician density in regions. Health Transformation Program [2003] activities are improving the inequality among the regions. Different policies should be developed and given to physicians to encourage them work in underdeveloped regions; they should also be made to see the health care need in the regions with fewer health care workforce. It is important to take these issues into consideration when developing policies toward the solution of this problem