Investigating educational factors affecting medical students in relation to migration abroad, Mashhad branch in 2023

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Medical Student, Innovative Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/nnj.2025.86032.1478

Abstract

Background and Aims: One of the major challenges of healthcare systems in developing countries is the migration of medical students. Many factors include educational, economic, and social problems influence on this issue. Our study investigates the educational factors which affect the medical students of the Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, to migrate abroad.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 173 medical students (levels: Pre-clinical (physiopathology (externs, interns) were included. All data collected by a questionnaire. the data analyzed by SPSS software, version 22.
Results: The average age of the participants is 24.71 years old and 64.2% of them are female, and 63.6% of medical students have close relatives living abroad. Our results revealed that many factors such as "lack of meritocracy in the country's educational systems, outdated curricula in Iran, inadequate educational facilities in Iran, unfair conditions during studies in Iran, discrimination of the residency admissions, better educational and career opportunities of residency in the destination country, and the invalidity of the degree obtained in the destination country upon returning to Iran" were significantly associate with intention to migrate in medical students.
Conclusion:To reduce the intention of medical students to migrate, it is crucial to improve the medical education quality, provide better educational and research facilities. Those involved in develop of educational and research programs should create beneficial conditions for the professional and academic advancement of students within the country.

Keywords


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