Why is Turkey Losing Its Doctors? A Cross-sectional Study on the Primary Complaints of Turkish Doctors

Overview

Journal Heliyon

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2023 Oct 9

PMID 37809803

Authors

Salim Yilmaz

Seher Koyuncu Aydin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In 2022, Turkey encountered the formidable task of addressing an unprecedented loss of medical doctors and seeking remedies for potential issues within the healthcare system. This study set out to explore the inclination of 402 actively practicing Turkish doctors to depart from Turkey, assess the socio-demographic and socio-economic factors influencing this trend, and establish the hierarchy of raised concerns among doctors. Employing a cross-sectional and analytical approach, the study drew comparisons between doctors' demographic characteristics and the significance of their grievances, while also examining the correlation between the importance of complaints and the desire to remain in Turkey. The doctors' primary complaints encompassed financial challenges, instances of violence in the healthcare sector, and insufficient examination durations. The migration of doctors poses a substantial risk to healthcare accessibility, public health, and the sustainability of Turkey's healthcare delivery capacity. To mitigate this risk and curb doctor migration, corrective measures must be implemented to improve working conditions. Additionally, there is a need for further scientific research focusing on doctors' concerns, particularly in developing countries like Turkey, to expand the current body of literature on this subject.

Citing Articles

Experiences of healthcare workers who faced physical workplace violence from patients or their relatives in Nepal: a qualitative study.

Adhikari M, Timalsena D, Chaudhary K BMJ Public Health. 2025; 2(1):e001032.

PMID: 40018168 PMC: 11812916. DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001032.

Adaptation and Psychometric Assessment of the Turkish Version of the Perceived Access to Health Care Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability Analysis.

Yilmaz S, Ates M, Abay P Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(4).

PMID: 39997245 PMC: 11855100. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13040370.

Difficulties Faced by Residents and Clues for Solutions: A Qualitative Study.

Midik O, Demiroren M, Baykan Z Inquiry. 2024; 61:469580241271313.

PMID: 39450636 PMC: 11523149. DOI: 10.1177/00469580241271313.

References

Sancak B, Selek S, Sari E . Depression, anxiety, stress levels and five-factor personality traits as predictors of clinical medical students' migration intention: A cross-sectional study of brain drain. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2023; 38(4):1015-1031. DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3646. View

Giantini Larsen A, Pories S, Parangi S, Robertson F . Barriers to Pursuing a Career in Surgery: An Institutional Survey of Harvard Medical School Students. Ann Surg. 2019; 273(6):1120-1126. DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003618. View

Lin R, Lin Y, Hsia Y, Kuo C . Long working hours and burnout in health care workers: Non-linear dose-response relationship and the effect mediated by sleeping hours-A cross-sectional study. J Occup Health. 2021; 63(1):e12228. PMC: 8101694. DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12228. View

Humphries N, Connell J, Negin J, Buchan J . Tracking the leavers: towards a better understanding of doctor migration from Ireland to Australia 2008-2018. Hum Resour Health. 2019; 17(1):36. PMC: 6540407. DOI: 10.1186/s12960-019-0365-5. View

Cheung T, Lee P, Yip P . The association between workplace violence and physicians' and nurses' job satisfaction in Macau. PLoS One. 2018; 13(12):e0207577. PMC: 6281202. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207577. View

Nowrouzi-Kia B, Chai E, Usuba K, Nowrouzi-Kia B, Casole J . Prevalence of Type II and Type III Workplace Violence against Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2019; 10(3):99-110. PMC: 6708400. DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2019.1573. View

Tankwanchi A, Hagopian A, Vermund S . African Physician Migration to High-Income Nations: Diverse Motives to Emigrate ("We Are not Florence Nightingale") or Stay in Africa ("There Is No Place Like Home") Comment on "Doctor Retention: A Cross-sectional Study of How Ireland Has Been.... Int J Health Policy Manag. 2020; 10(10):660-663. PMC: 9278531. DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2020.219. View

Johnson E . Visual analog scale (VAS). Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2001; 80(10):717. DOI: 10.1097/00002060-200110000-00001. View

Nikolic D, Visnjic A . Mobbing and Violence at Work as Hidden Stressors and Work Ability Among Emergency Medical Doctors in Serbia. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020; 56(1). PMC: 7022686. DOI: 10.3390/medicina56010031. View

10.

Hanganu B, Iorga M, Pop L, Ioan B . Socio-Demographic, Professional and Institutional Characteristics That Make Romanian Doctors More Prone to Malpractice Complaints. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022; 58(2). PMC: 8878102. DOI: 10.3390/medicina58020287. View

11.

Sen M, Honavar S . It's a doc's life - Workplace violence against doctors. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2019; 67(7):981-984. PMC: 6611293. DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1166_19. View

12.

Nittari G, Khuman R, Baldoni S, Pallotta G, Battineni G, Sirignano A . Telemedicine Practice: Review of the Current Ethical and Legal Challenges. Telemed J E Health. 2020; 26(12):1427-1437. PMC: 7757597. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2019.0158. View

13.

Soh I, Money S, Huber T, Coleman D, Sheahan M, Morrissey N . Malpractice allegations against vascular surgeons: Prevalence, risk factors, and impact on surgeon wellness. J Vasc Surg. 2021; 75(2):680-686. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2021.07.233. View

14.

Antonio C, Guevarra J, Medina P, Avelino M, Agbon A, Sepe D . Components of compulsory service program for health professionals in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Perspect Public Health. 2019; 140(1):54-61. DOI: 10.1177/1757913919839432. View

15.

Stammen L, Stalmeijer R, Paternotte E, Oudkerk Pool A, Driessen E, Scheele F . Training Physicians to Provide High-Value, Cost-Conscious Care: A Systematic Review. JAMA. 2015; 314(22):2384-400. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.16353. View

16.

Jadoo S, Aljunid S, Dastan I, Tawfeeq R, Mustafa M, Ganasegeran K . Job satisfaction and turnover intention among Iraqi doctors--a descriptive cross-sectional multicentre study. Hum Resour Health. 2015; 13:21. PMC: 4407309. DOI: 10.1186/s12960-015-0014-6. View

17.

Leigh J, Tancredi D, Jerant A, Kravitz R . Physician wages across specialties: informing the physician reimbursement debate. Arch Intern Med. 2010; 170(19):1728-34. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.350. View

18.

AlQahtani D, Rotgans J, Mamede S, Alalwan I, Magzoub M, Altayeb F . Does Time Pressure Have a Negative Effect on Diagnostic Accuracy?. Acad Med. 2016; 91(5):710-6. DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001098. View

19.

Sibeoni J, Bellon-Champel L, Verneuil L, Siaugues C, Revah-Levy A, Farges O . Workplace environment around physicians' burnout: A qualitative study in French hospitals. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2021; 47(7):521-530. PMC: 8504159. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.3977. View

20.

Shaikh S, Baig L, Hashmi I, Khan M, Jamali S, Khan M . The magnitude and determinants of violence against healthcare workers in Pakistan. BMJ Glob Health. 2020; 5(4):e002112. PMC: 7199710. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002112. View