Migration Tendencies Among Turkish Health-Care Professionals: Determinants of Brain Drain and Turnover Intentions

Abstract

Attitudes toward brain drain among health-care professionals pose a significant threat to the sustainability of health services, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to analyze the relationship between brain drain attitudes and turnover intentions among health-care professionals in Turkey. Data were collected from 752 health-care professionals and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression methods. The findings reveal that positive attitudes toward brain drain strongly predict turnover intentions. Younger health-care professionals exhibited higher tendencies toward migration, with economic factors, occupational violence, and safety concerns significantly amplifying these tendencies. The study highlights the necessity of restructuring health-care policies and improving working conditions to mitigate brain drain. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers aiming to address the challenges of retaining skilled health-care professionals and ensuring the sustainability of the health-care system.