BRAIN DRAIN IN HEALTHCARE: CAREER PROSPECTS AND MIGRATION INTENTION AMONG ANESTHESIA TECHNOLOGY GRADUATES IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Anesthesia technology graduates play a crucial role in perioperative and critical care services, yet little is known about their career prospects and migration intentions. This study aimed to assess perceived career prospects and migration intentions, and to identify push factors among anesthesia technology graduates in Peshawar, Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 244 anesthesia technology graduates.  Convenience sampling design was chosen, and data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The data were collected from anesthesia technology graduates who were working or training at various hospitals and educational institutions in Peshawar. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographics, perceived career prospects, migration intention, and push factors. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 27.  Results:  We found that migration intention is very high (88.9%, Mean = 4.42 ± 0.58), indicating that most participants strongly intend to migrate. Push factors are also high at 68.9% (Mean = 3.90 ± 0.78), indicating that respondents have strong reasons to migrate. In contrast, perceived career prospects are low to moderate, at 30.3% and 45.9%, respectively (Mean = 2.88 ± 0.98), suggesting that participants are generally not satisfied with their career prospects. Overall, the findings indicate that low career prospects and high push factors are associated with a very strong intention to migrate. Conclusions: The participants were generally not satisfied with career prospects, job opportunities, professional recognition, career advancement, and long-term professional stability in the local healthcare structure. The intention to migrate among the study participants was very high, with 88.9% of respondents intending to emigrate abroad. The majority of participants indicated that they often consider going abroad for work, have migration intentions for later in life, and would emigrate if opportunities arose. The study participants strongly felt that professional advancement opportunities, salaries, training, and living standards are better abroad than in Pakistan.