International return mobility, learning and knowledge transfer: a case study of Slovak doctors

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Sociology of Health
• Knowledge Management in Healthcare

Background:

• International mobility of healthcare workers offers significant learning and knowledge transfer opportunities.
• Benefits extend to destination countries and, upon return, to countries of origin.
• Tacit knowledge transfer is a key aspect of this mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the opportunities and constraints of knowledge transfer among internationally mobile healthcare workers.
• To explore the role of different types of tacit knowledge in international health worker mobility.
• To analyze the experiences of Slovak doctors returning to Slovakia after international migration.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a typology of four types of tacit knowledge: embrained, embodied, embedded, and encultured.
• Conducted a case study of internationally mobile Slovak doctors upon their return to Slovakia.
• Employed in-depth interviews to analyze individual learning and knowledge sharing.

Main Results:

• Identified professional and social recognition, language barriers, and power dynamics as constraints to knowledge transfer.
• Demonstrated how different forms of tacit knowledge are acquired and shared.
• Provided insights into the practical challenges and facilitators of knowledge transfer for returning migrant doctors.

Conclusions:

• International health worker mobility is a complex process influenced by various forms of tacit knowledge and significant barriers.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for maximizing the benefits of health worker migration for all involved countries.
• Policy interventions addressing recognition and language barriers could enhance knowledge transfer and integration.