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Why are you draining your brain? Factors underlying decisions of graduating Lebanese medical students to migrate

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  • Akl, Elie A.
  • Maroun, Nancy
  • Major, Stella
  • Afif, Claude
  • Chahoud, Bechara
  • Choucair, Jacques
  • Sakr, Mazen
  • Schünemann, Holger J.

Abstract

In the context of a worldwide physician brain drain phenomenon, Lebanon has the highest emigration factor in the Middle East and North Africa. In this manuscript we aim to identify and develop a conceptual framework for the factors underlying the decisions of graduating Lebanese medical students to train abroad. We conducted two focus groups and seven semi-structured individual interviews with 23 students. In the deductive analysis (based on the push-pull theory), students reported push factors in Lebanon and pull factors abroad related to five dimensions. They focused predominantly on how training abroad provides them with a competitive advantage in an oversaturated Lebanese job market. An inductive analysis revealed the following emerging concepts: repel factors abroad and retain factors locally; societal expectations that students should train abroad; marketing of abroad training; and an established culture of migration. The marketing of abroad training and the culture of migration are prevalent in the academic institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Akl, Elie A. & Maroun, Nancy & Major, Stella & Afif, Claude & Chahoud, Bechara & Choucair, Jacques & Sakr, Mazen & Schünemann, Holger J., 2007. "Why are you draining your brain? Factors underlying decisions of graduating Lebanese medical students to migrate," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(6), pages 1278-1284, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:64:y:2007:i:6:p:1278-1284
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Everett Lee, 1966. "A theory of migration," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 3(1), pages 47-57, March.
    2. Brown, Richard P. C. & Connell, John, 2004. "The migration of doctors and nurses from South Pacific Island Nations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(11), pages 2193-2210, June.
    3. Hagopian, Amy & Ofosu, Anthony & Fatusi, Adesegun & Biritwum, Richard & Essel, Ama & Gary Hart, L. & Watts, Carolyn, 2005. "The flight of physicians from West Africa: Views of African physicians and implications for policy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(8), pages 1750-1760, October.
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    1. Masselink, Leah E. & Lee, Shoou-Yih Daniel, 2010. "Nurses, Inc.: Expansion and commercialization of nursing education in the Philippines," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 166-172, July.
    2. Lena Dohlman & Matthew DiMeglio & Jihane Hajj & Krzysztof Laudanski, 2019. "Global Brain Drain: How Can the Maslow Theory of Motivation Improve Our Understanding of Physician Migration?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Connell, John, 2014. "The two cultures of health worker migration: A Pacific perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 73-81.
    4. Hussey, Peter S., 2007. "International migration patterns of physicians to the United States: A cross-national panel analysis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(2-3), pages 298-307, December.
    5. Blacklock, C. & Ward, A.M. & Heneghan, C. & Thompson, M., 2014. "Exploring the migration decisions of health workers and trainees from Africa: A meta-ethnographic synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 99-106.
    6. Evgenia Anastasiou & Georgia Anagnostou & George Theodossiou & Vasileios Papamargaritis, 2020. "Physicians' Brain Drain: Investigating the Determinants to Emigrate Through Empirical Evidence," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Kavala Campus, Greece, vol. 13(2), pages 83-92, September.

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