Factors Affecting Health and Tourism Students’ Perceptions of Brain Drain: A Serial Mediation Model

Abstract Background To provide the optimum level of health and tourism goals of Turkey, it is important that the supply of well-trained health and tourism professionals meets the demand. Our study aimed to evaluate the sequential mediating role of self-efficacy and financial anxiety levels in the impact of health and tourism students’ life satisfaction on their migration attitudes. Methods In the descriptive study, sequential and regulatory mediation model was used in medical, nursing, dentist and tourism students sample in Akdeniz University. The data were collected using a descriptive form and four scales; Attitude for Brain Drain, Life Satisfaction, Self-Efficacy, and Financial Anxiety. Data were analysed with the serial mediation model, logistic and multiple regression. Results A total of 403 students responded (32.9% response rate), of whom 307 were classified as health group and 96 tourism students. Of these, 83.3% tourism, 74.8% nursing, 56.5% dentistry, 55.7% medical school students indicated they were contemplating migrating following graduation. Participants’ 50.6% expressed an intention of returning to Turkey. The factors most influencing their intent to migrate were attitude towards brain drain (odds ratio [OR], 3.62; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 2.54-5.18; p =