TR
EN
Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study
Öz
Objective: This study aims to investigate the key factors influencing physician migration from Turkey.
Method: The study is designed as qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interview forms were used in all interviews. The interviews were conducted between June 2022 and June 2023 and lasted an average of 60 minutes. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with intern physicians were conducted face-to-face, while interviews with physicians living abroad were conducted online. The interviews were first coded with open codes for description. Then, open codes were classified, and associated, and themes were determined. The reliability of the study was ensured by triangulation.
Results: Among the push factors, the most frequently mentioned theme was the working conditions of physicians. This was followed by issues within the healthcare system, the country's overall situation, field experience, and suggestions. Regarding the pull factors, the most common theme was the advantages of working conditions. This was followed by the convenience of social life, economic benefits, and the availability of time for personal activities.
Conclusion: This study examined the factors driving physicians to migrate abroad, with negative working conditions emerging as the most prominent reason. The advantage of better working conditions was the most significant pull factor. Factors such as heavy workload, low salaries, violence against healthcare professionals, and job insecurity in Turkey have led migration to be seen as an escape route for physicians. Economic difficulties, uncertainty about the country’s future, and lack of meritocracy further increase migration intentions.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Etik Beyan
Araştırma için Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dekanlığı ve Girişimsel Olmayan Etik Kurulu’ndan izin alındı (Karar numarası: 2022/21-12, Tarih: 08.06.2022).
Teşekkür
Çalışmamıza katılmaya gönüllü olan intern hekim ve hekimlerimize teşekkür ederiz.
Kaynakça
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- Apostu, SA, Vasile V, Marin E. Bunduchi, E. Factors influencing physicians migration-A case study from Romania. Mathematics 2022;10(3):505.
- Vasile V, Bunduchi E, Stefan D, Comes CA, Vasile R, Stefan AB. Are we facing a radical change in the migration behavior of medical graduates from less developed countries? Demographic profile vs. social push factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;10;20(6).
- OECD. Health at a Glance 2025. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-2025_8f9e3f98-en.html. Accessed February 1, 2026
- WHO. Europe’s dependence on foreign-trained doctors and nurses has cross-border ripple effects, finds new WHO/Europe report. 2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/16-09-2025-europe-s-dependence-on-foreign-trained-doctors-and-nurses-has-cross-border-ripple-effects--finds-new-who-europe-report. Accessed January 31, 2026
- Lauren A, Ramalho J, Dumont JC, Lafortune G, Mahat A, Nair T. International Migration Outlook 2025. Paris; 2025. International migration of health professionals to OECD countries. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1787/ae26c893-en. Accessed February 1, 2026
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Tıp Eğitimi
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yayımlanma Tarihi
20 Nisan 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
25 Mart 2025
Kabul Tarihi
15 Nisan 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 35 Sayı: 1
APA
Süner, A. F., Bilgin, A. C., Varol, Z. S., & Şimşek, H. (2026). Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi, 35(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.17942/sted.1661794
AMA
1.Süner AF, Bilgin AC, Varol ZS, Şimşek H. Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study. STED. 2026;35(1):1-15. doi:10.17942/sted.1661794
Chicago
Süner, Ahmet Furkan, Ahmet Can Bilgin, Zeynep Sedef Varol, ve Hatice Şimşek. 2026. “Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study”. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi 35 (1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.17942/sted.1661794.
EndNote
Süner AF, Bilgin AC, Varol ZS, Şimşek H (01 Nisan 2026) Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi 35 1 1–15.
IEEE
[1]A. F. Süner, A. C. Bilgin, Z. S. Varol, ve H. Şimşek, “Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study”, STED, c. 35, sy 1, ss. 1–15, Nis. 2026, doi: 10.17942/sted.1661794.
ISNAD
Süner, Ahmet Furkan - Bilgin, Ahmet Can - Varol, Zeynep Sedef - Şimşek, Hatice. “Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study”. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi 35/1 (01 Nisan 2026): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.17942/sted.1661794.
JAMA
1.Süner AF, Bilgin AC, Varol ZS, Şimşek H. Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study. STED. 2026;35:1–15.
MLA
Süner, Ahmet Furkan, vd. “Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study”. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi, c. 35, sy 1, Nisan 2026, ss. 1-15, doi:10.17942/sted.1661794.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Furkan Süner, Ahmet Can Bilgin, Zeynep Sedef Varol, Hatice Şimşek. Determining the Reasons for Going Abroad of Physicians Working in Turkey and Immigrating from Turkey: A Qualitative Study. STED. 01 Nisan 2026;35(1):1-15. doi:10.17942/sted.1661794