To which countries do European psychiatric trainees want to move to and why?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Global shortage of psychiatrists impacts healthcare systems.
• Psychiatric trainee mobility across European countries is a significant factor in workforce distribution.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the motivations behind psychiatric trainee migration within Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of migration considerations among European psychiatric trainees.
• To identify the primary drivers for psychiatric trainees' decisions to migrate or remain in their home country.
• To explore patterns of short-term and long-term international mobility in psychiatric training.

Main Methods:

• A cross-European survey was conducted among psychiatric trainees.
• A 61-item self-report questionnaire assessed demographics, mobility experiences, and attitudes towards migration.
• Data were collected from trainees across 33 European countries.

Main Results:

• Over 70% of trainees considered or were considering international relocation.
• Academic reasons were cited as a primary driver for migration among trainees who had already moved.
• Financial incentives were the leading reason for potential departure for all trainees (34.4%), particularly those with lower incomes (58.1%).

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of psychiatric trainees are contemplating international moves, driven by financial disparities and academic opportunities.
• Addressing salary differences and enhancing academic prospects are crucial strategies for workforce retention in psychiatry.
• Policy interventions should consider both financial and professional development factors to mitigate trainee migration.