Browsing by Author "Ozkaya, Guven"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

The Anatomy of a Decision: Exploring the Push, Pull, and Personal Factors of Emigration Intent Among Turkish Medical Students
(BMC, 2025) Aydin, Mevlut Okan; Caliskan, S. Ayhan; Ozkaya, Guven; Kumtepe, A. Sila; Aydin, Birnur; Alper, Zuleyha
BackgroundThe migration intentions of medical students, often referred to as "brain drain," pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This study aims to investigate the motivations for emigration, career preferences, and preparatory actions among medical students in T & uuml;rkiye, a country experiencing significant physician outflow. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to medical students across T & uuml;rkiye. The final sample included 1134 participants from 20 different medical faculties. Data were collected on demographics, motivations for studying medicine, specialty preferences, language proficiency, international experience, and intentions and preparations for working abroad or domestically. Results Motivations for studying medicine and specialty preferences differed significantly by gender. Female students were more driven by altruism and preferred nonsurgical specialties, whereas male students prioritized financial prospects, prestige, and surgical fields. The key predictors for intending to work abroad included higher parental education, advanced foreign language proficiency (especially English), and prior international experience. A third of the students (33%) expressed a desire to work abroad after graduation, with Germany, the UK, and the US being the top destinations. The primary push factors for emigration were demanding working conditions (70.8%), violence against healthcare professionals (64.1%), and systemic problems within the healthcare system (55.8%). A striking finding was 74.2% of the students who planned to stay in T & uuml;rkiye were also making preparations to leave, indicating a deep-seated lack of confidence in the domestic healthcare environment. Conclusion A significant proportion of Turkish medical students intend to practice abroad, driven primarily by push factors related to working conditions and safety. The widespread preparatory activities, even among those stating an intention to stay, suggest that brain drain is a tangible risk. Retaining this future physician workforce requires urgent, systemic interventions addressing working conditions, safety from violence, and career opportunities, particularly in research and academic medicine.
Turkish Medical Students' Perspectives on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Telemedicine: Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation
(BMC, 2026) Aydin, Mevlut Okan; Alper, Zuleyha; Ozkaya, Guven; Caliskan, Suleyman Ayhan
Background The rise of digital technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, yet its integration into medical education remains limited. Understanding the perceptions of future physicians is vital for the sustainable implementation of these services and for developing evidence-based telemedicine training programs. This study aims to assess the awareness and perception of telemedicine among medical students in T & uuml;rkiye and provide empirical evidence to inform curriculum development. Methods This nationwide survey included 810 medical students from six universities in T & uuml;rkiye. A valid and reliable 19-item questionnaire was developed to measure participants' perceptions of telemedicine. The questionnaire used a 5-choice Likert-type scale. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to determine the scale's validity and reliability. Results The final 11-item scale demonstrated strong validity and reliability, with a two-factor structure: "Advantages of Telemedicine" and "Disadvantages of Telemedicine." The results showed that students largely perceive telemedicine as beneficial, particularly for preventive health services. However, they also expressed concerns, with the highest-rated disadvantage being that telemedicine might create a distance between the doctor and patient. The students rated "increased health inequalities" as the lowest concern. These findings reveal specific competency gaps and training needs that should be addressed in medical curricula. Conclusion The findings suggest that medical students in T & uuml;rkiye hold a generally positive view of telemedicine, recognizing its potential advantages in healthcare. While they are aware of some ethical concerns, such as the potential for a distant doctor-patient relationship, they see telemedicine as a tool to reduce health inequalities. This validated scale provides a foundation for designing targeted telemedicine training programs, assessing educational outcomes, and identifying specific competencies that require emphasis in medical school curricula. We propose a competency-based framework and specific pedagogical approaches to prepare future physicians for effective telemedicine practice.