Motivations for foreign employment and carrier change among Hungarian physiotherapists

Abstract

An increasing motivation can be experienced among professional workers within the Hungarian healthcare system towards foreign employment or career change. The aim of the authors was to assess Hungarian physiotherapists' migration and career changing behaviour and to understand the underlying factors. A national survey in Hungary from April to August, 2014 was performed. Only physiotherapists who practice in Hungary were included (n = 215). The results suggest that age (p<0.05) and the rate of financial appreciation experienced in the workplace (p<0.01) significantly affect the appearance of migratory thoughts. Those physiotherapists who do not feel themselves financially appreciated, are 55 times more likely to search for employment outside the country's borders [OR = 55.28 CI (95%) = 18.85 to 161.12]. The most common causes for that are unfavourable financial (p<0.01) and moral recognition (p<0.01). In order to prevent our already highly-qualified colleagues from leaving the country or from considering to leave the profession we should concentrate on increasing the financial and moral appreciation of the profession within the Hungarian healthcare system.