The Relationship Between Fear of Violence, Migration Intention, and Occupational Anxiety Among Medical Students
Abstract
Aim: Violence against healthcare workers is an increasing occupational hazard worldwide, contributing to burnout, migration, and reduced workforce retention. In Türkiye, the fear of violence among medical trainees may be influencing their intention to work abroad and shaping their career trajectories. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 474 5th- and 6th-year medical students using the Fear of Violence Scale and a custom questionnaire exploring sociodemographic and occupational factors. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests due to non-normal distribution. Results: The average fear of violence score was 42.87±8.07. Students expressing higher anxiety about beginning their careers, who reported obstacles to working in Türkiye, or who wished to practise abroad had significantly higher fear scores. 62.2% of students indicated a desire to work internationally, and 56.3% reported they would not choose medical school again. Fear of violence emerged as a strong correlate of both migration intent and occupational anxiety. Conclusion: Fear of workplace violence significantly impacts medical students’ attitudes toward practising in their home country. These findings reflect a broader challenge of healthcare worker retention and signal the need for policy changes targeting workplace safety in clinical training environments.
Ethical Statement
This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Erciyes University Clinical Research Ethics Committee under decision number 2022/300.
Supporting Institution
Yok
Thanks
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References
- Reddy IR, Ukrani J, Indla V, Ukrani V. Violence against doctors: A viral epidemic? Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 4):S782–5.
- Mento C, Silvestri MC, Bruno A, Muscatello MRA, Cedro C, Pandolfo G, et al. Workplace violence against healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2020;51:101381.
- Vento S, Cainelli F, Vallone A. Violence Against Healthcare Workers: A Worldwide Phenomenon With Serious Consequences. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020;8:570459.
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- Dursun S, Aytaç SS. The Prevalence of Violence against Healthcare Workers in Turkey and Employee Job Satisfaction. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 2021;15(6):1607–10.
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Abstract
Amaç: Sağlık çalışanlarına yönelik şiddet, tükenmişliğe, göçe ve işgücünün elde tutulmasının azalmasına katkıda bulunan, dünya çapında giderek artan bir mesleki tehlikedir. Türkiye'de, tıp stajyerleri arasındaki şiddet korkusu, yurt dışında çalışma niyetlerini etkiliyor ve kariyer yörüngelerini şekillendiriyor olabilir. Yöntem: Şiddet Korkusu Ölçeği ve sosyodemografik ve mesleki faktörleri araştıran özel bir anket kullanılarak 474 5. ve 6. sınıf tıp öğrencisi arasında kesitsel bir çalışma yürütülmüştür. Veriler normal dağılım göstermediği için non-parametrik testler kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Ortalama şiddet korkusu puanı 42.87±8.07 idi. Mesleğe başlama kaygısı daha yüksek olan, Türkiye'de çalışmasının önünde engeller olduğunu belirten veya yurtdışında çalışmak isteyen öğrencilerin korku puanları anlamlı derecede yüksektir. Öğrencilerin %62,2'si uluslararası alanda çalışmak istediğini ve %56,3'ü tıp fakültesini tekrar tercih etmeyeceğini belirtmiştir. Şiddet korkusu hem göç niyeti hem de mesleki kaygı ile güçlü bir korelasyon göstermiştir. Sonuç: İşyerinde şiddet korkusu, tıp öğrencilerinin kendi ülkelerinde uygulama yapmaya yönelik tutumlarını önemli ölçüde etkilemektedir. Bu bulgular, sağlık çalışanlarını elde tutmaya yönelik daha geniş bir zorluğu yansıtmakta ve klinik eğitim ortamlarında işyeri güvenliğini hedefleyen politika değişikliklerine duyulan ihtiyaca işaret etmektedir.
Keywords
References
- Reddy IR, Ukrani J, Indla V, Ukrani V. Violence against doctors: A viral epidemic? Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 4):S782–5.
- Mento C, Silvestri MC, Bruno A, Muscatello MRA, Cedro C, Pandolfo G, et al. Workplace violence against healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2020;51:101381.
- Vento S, Cainelli F, Vallone A. Violence Against Healthcare Workers: A Worldwide Phenomenon With Serious Consequences. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020;8:570459.
- İnci HÇ, Bourse Y. Sağlık iletişiminin bakış açısı ile Türkiye’de sağlık işyeri ortamında sağlık çalışanlarına yönelik şiddet. Galatasaray Üniversitesi İletişim Dergisi. 2014;(21):31–52.
- Yılmaz M, Tellioğlu M, Arıkan İ. Sağlıkta Şiddet: Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Mesleğe Bakışına Etkisi. Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2021;6(3):404–12.
- Liu J, Gan Y, Jiang H, Li L, Dwyer R, Lu K, et al. Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2019;76(12):927–37.
- Özcan NK, Bilgin H. Türkiye'de Sağlık Çalışanlarına Yönelik Şiddet: Sistematik Derleme. Türkiye Klinikleri Tıp Bilimleri Dergisi. 2011;31(6):1442–53.
- Dursun S, Aytaç SS. The Prevalence of Violence against Healthcare Workers in Turkey and Employee Job Satisfaction. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 2021;15(6):1607–10.
- Brophy JT, Keith MM, Hurley M. Assaulted and Unheard: Violence Against Healthcare Staff. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 2017;27(4):581–606.
- Yeşilbaş H. Sağlıkta şiddete genel bakış. Sağlık ve Hemşirelik Yönetimi Dergisi. 2016;1(3):44–54.
- Demirbaş N, Karaoğlu N. Hekim ve Hekim Adaylarının Hekime Yönelik Şiddet Algıları: Bir Ön Çalışma. Genel Tıp Dergisi. 2021;31(2):130–4.
- Fu C, Wang G, Shi X, Ren Y, Cao F. The association between fear of future workplace violence and burnout among nurses in China: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2021;293:29–35.
- Rogers K-A, Kelloway EK. Violence at work: personal and organizational outcomes. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 1997;2(1):63–71.
- Akbolat M, Sezer C, Ünal Ö, Amarat M, Durmuş A. The effects of direct violence and witnessed violence on the future fear of violence and turnover intention: a study of health employees. Current Psychology. 2021;40(9):4684–90.
- Eser E, Cil E, Sen Gundogan NE, Col M, Yildirim Ozturk EN, Thomas DT, et al. Push and Pull Factors of Why Medical Students Want to Leave Türkiye: A Countrywide Multicenter Study. Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 2024;36(5):588–600.
- McDiarmid M. Advocating for the Health Worker. Annals of Global Health. 2019;85(1):1–4.
- Lin TK, Werner K, Kak M, Herbst CH. Health-care worker retention in post-conflict settings: a systematic literature review. Health Policy and Planning. 2023;38(1):109–21.
- Kallström A, Al-Abdulla O, Parkki J, Häkkinen M, Juusola H, Kauhanen J. I had to leave. I had to leave my clinic, my city, leave everything behind in Syria. Qualitative research of Syrian healthcare workers migrating from the war-torn country. BMJ Open. 2021;11(11):e049941.
- Kamarulzaman A, Ramnarayan K, Mocumbi AO. Plugging the medical brain drain. The Lancet. 2022;400(10362):1492–4.
- Aydan S. Hekim Göçü Açısından Türkiye’nin Çalışma Koşullarının Değerlendirilmesi. Hacettepe Sağlık İdaresi Dergisi. 2023;26(3):887–912.
- Lowe M, Chen D-R. Factors influencing the migration of West African health professionals. Pan African Medical Journal. 2016;24(1).
- Odabaşı O. Türkiye Tıp Fakülteleri 2023. STED / Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi. 2023;32(1).
- Saluja S, Rudolfson N, Massenburg BB, Meara JG, Shrime MG. The impact of physician migration on mortality in low and middle-income countries: an economic modelling study. BMJ Global Health. 2020;5(1):e001535.
- Önal FG. Physician migration through the lens of patient and physician rights: A qualitative evaluation from the Turkish Parliament. Health Sciences Quarterly. 2023;3(4):269–82.
- Medimagazin. 2023 yılında 3 bin doktor yurt dışına gitmek için başvurdu [Internet]. Medimagazin; 2023 Mar 1 [cited 2025 May 1]. Available from: https://medimagazin.com.tr/hekim/2023-yilinda-3-bin-doktor-yurt-disina-gitmek-icin-basvurdu-109035
- Dohlman L, DiMeglio M, Hajj J, Laudanski K. Global Brain Drain: How Can the Maslow Theory of Motivation Improve Our Understanding of Physician Migration? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(7):1182.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Medical Education |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | June 30, 2025 |
| Submission Date | May 21, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | June 17, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 |
