Emigration-related attitudes of the final year medical students in Croatia: a cross-sectional study at the dawn of the EU accession

Kolčić, Ivana and Čikeš, Mihaela and Boban, Kristina and Bućan, Jasna and Likić, Robert and Ćurić, Goran and Đogaš, Zoran and Polašek, Ozren (2014) Emigration-related attitudes of the final year medical students in Croatia: a cross-sectional study at the dawn of the EU accession. Croatian Medical Journal, 55 (5). pp. 452-458. ISSN 0353-9504

PDF - Published Version Download (114kB)

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the emigration-related attitudes of final year medical students in Croatia at the dawn of the EU accession in 2013. ----- METHODS: All final-year medical students at four Croatian medical schools (Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, and Osijek) were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey on emigration attitudes. ----- RESULTS: Among 260 respondents (response rate 61%), 90 students (35%) reported readiness for permanent emigration, expecting better quality of life (N=22, 31%), better health care organization (N=17, 24%), more professional challenges (N=10, 14%), or simply to get a job (N=8, 11%), while the least common expectation were greater earnings (N=7, 10%). The most common target countries were Germany (N=36, 40%), USA and Canada (N=15, 17%), and UK (N=10, 11%). In a multivariate analysis, readiness for permanent emigration was associated with an interest in undertaking a temporary training abroad (odds ratio [OR] 6.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.83-16.72), while the belief that the preferred specialty could be obtained in Croatia appeared protective against emigration (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.12-0.59). ----- CONCLUSION: Despite shortages of health care workers in Croatia, the percentage of students with emigration propensity was rather high. Prevalent negative perception of the Croatian health care and recent Croatian accession to the EU pose a threat of losing newly graduated physicians to EU countries.

Abstract in Croatian

Stavovi hrvatskih studenata završne godine medicine o emigraciji: presječno istraživanje neposredno prije primanja Hrvatske u EU ----- Cilj: Istražiti stavove hrvatskih studenata završne godine medicine o emigraciji. ----- Postupci: Na sudjelovanje u presječnom istraživanju provedenom 2013. godine pozvali smo sve studente završne godine sa sva 4 medicinska fakulteta u Hrvatskoj (Zagreb, Rijeka, Split i Osijek). ----- Rezultati: Od 260 ispitanika (stopa odaziva 61%), 90 (35%) ih je izjavilo da je spremno trajno emigrirati, očekujući bolju kvalitetu života (N=22, 31%), bolju organizaciju zdravstvene skrbi (N=17, 24%), više profesionalnih izazova (N=10, 14%), ili samo da će dobiti posao (N=8, 11%), dok su najrjeđe očekivali bolju zaradu (N=7, 10%). Najčešće su željeli emigrirati u Njemačku (N=36, 40%), SAD i Kanadu (N=15, 17%) te Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo (N=10, 11%). Multivarijatna analiza pokazala je da je spremnost za trajnu emigraciju povezana s interesom za privremeni odlazak na obrazovanje u inozemstvo (omjer izgleda [eng, odds ratio OR] 6,87; 95% raspon pouzdanosti [eng, confidence interval CI] 2.83-16.72), dok se vjerovanje studenata da mogu dobiti željenu specijalizaciju u Hrvatskoj pokazalo protektivnim čimbenikom protiv emigracije (OR 0,26; 95% CI 0,12-0,59). ----- Zaključak: Usprkos nedostatku zdravstvenih radnika u Hrvatskoj, visoki postotak studenata pokazao je želju za trajnom emigracijom. Negativna percepcija Hrvatskog zdravstva i nedavni ulazak Hrvatske u EU mogli bi dovesti do emigracije znatnog broja hrvatskih mladih liječnika u europske zemlje.

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads