Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.

Assessing the impact of war on medical residents' specialty choices and migration decisions is critical to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Syrian crisis on specialty choices, related factors, and decisions to work in Syri...

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Main Authors: Jameel Soqia, Laila Yakoub-Agha, Lama Mohamad, Rawan Alhomsi, Mohamad Ashraf Shamaa, Albaraa Yazbek, Bayan Alsaid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295310&type=printable
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author Jameel Soqia
Laila Yakoub-Agha
Lama Mohamad
Rawan Alhomsi
Mohamad Ashraf Shamaa
Albaraa Yazbek
Bayan Alsaid
author_facet Jameel Soqia
Laila Yakoub-Agha
Lama Mohamad
Rawan Alhomsi
Mohamad Ashraf Shamaa
Albaraa Yazbek
Bayan Alsaid
author_sort Jameel Soqia
collection DOAJ
description Assessing the impact of war on medical residents' specialty choices and migration decisions is critical to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Syrian crisis on specialty choices, related factors, and decisions to work in Syria among residents of six major university hospitals in Damascus. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire from 20/4/2022 to 20/5/2022, including all eligible residents with no missing data. The questionnaire was comprised of 68 items, and residents were divided into two groups: group 1 included residents who made their specialty choice after the end of the military war in Damascus 2018, while group 2 included residents who made their specialty choice (the point of submitting their lists and applying for residency) during the war. A total of 370 residents were included, with 38.4% females and 61.6% males. Our findings revealed that 30% of residents preferred working in Syria, while 43.5% preferred working abroad. The factor of a "safer and more stable life" was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (3.86>3.5, p-value = 0.026). Additionally, Group 1 residents were more likely to choose radiology, pathology, laboratory, and psychiatry specialization as their specialties, while choosing surgical specializations and hematology decreased compared to Group 2 (p-value<0.05). Factors related to social life were rated higher by group 1 (mean = 3.31) than by group 2 (mean = 2.27, Standard deviation = 0.19, p-value = 0.002). Moreover, the factor of "a specialization to facilitate traveling abroad" was significantly higher in Group 1 (2.69>2.21, Standard deviation = 0.22, p-value = 0.033). The Syrian crisis and its economic aftermath have influenced residents' specialty choices and practice locations. Even after the war's end, the high level of migration intentions could negatively affect the quality of provided healthcare services.
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spelling doaj.art-a3a8fa510bf743899b7604fec62f08222024-02-17T05:33:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01192e029531010.1371/journal.pone.0295310Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.Jameel SoqiaLaila Yakoub-AghaLama MohamadRawan AlhomsiMohamad Ashraf ShamaaAlbaraa YazbekBayan AlsaidAssessing the impact of war on medical residents' specialty choices and migration decisions is critical to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Syrian crisis on specialty choices, related factors, and decisions to work in Syria among residents of six major university hospitals in Damascus. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire from 20/4/2022 to 20/5/2022, including all eligible residents with no missing data. The questionnaire was comprised of 68 items, and residents were divided into two groups: group 1 included residents who made their specialty choice after the end of the military war in Damascus 2018, while group 2 included residents who made their specialty choice (the point of submitting their lists and applying for residency) during the war. A total of 370 residents were included, with 38.4% females and 61.6% males. Our findings revealed that 30% of residents preferred working in Syria, while 43.5% preferred working abroad. The factor of a "safer and more stable life" was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (3.86>3.5, p-value = 0.026). Additionally, Group 1 residents were more likely to choose radiology, pathology, laboratory, and psychiatry specialization as their specialties, while choosing surgical specializations and hematology decreased compared to Group 2 (p-value<0.05). Factors related to social life were rated higher by group 1 (mean = 3.31) than by group 2 (mean = 2.27, Standard deviation = 0.19, p-value = 0.002). Moreover, the factor of "a specialization to facilitate traveling abroad" was significantly higher in Group 1 (2.69>2.21, Standard deviation = 0.22, p-value = 0.033). The Syrian crisis and its economic aftermath have influenced residents' specialty choices and practice locations. Even after the war's end, the high level of migration intentions could negatively affect the quality of provided healthcare services.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295310&type=printable
spellingShingle Jameel Soqia
Laila Yakoub-Agha
Lama Mohamad
Rawan Alhomsi
Mohamad Ashraf Shamaa
Albaraa Yazbek
Bayan Alsaid
Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
PLoS ONE
title Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
title_full Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
title_fullStr Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
title_full_unstemmed Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
title_short Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.
title_sort syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in syria damascus
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295310&type=printable
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