Nentwich Martin M, Schaller Ulrich C, Klauss Volker
Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Mathildenstr. 8, 80336, Munich, Germany,
Int Ophthalmol. 2014 Aug;34(4):887-92. doi: 10.1007/s10792-014-9896-x. Epub 2014 Jan 22.
In sub-Sahara Africa, the shortage of ophthalmologists is a major obstacle in the struggle of fighting preventable blindness. Migration of well-trained ophthalmologists has an additional negative effect on the low number of caregivers. However, to date, the reasons affecting migration of ophthalmologists have not been completely understood. The present study evaluates reasons reported by ophthalmologists for staying in their current work setting/country and potential reasons why they might consider migrating. In the years 2009-2011, after approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, a questionnaire evaluating reasons for and against migration of ophthalmologists was distributed to the participants of 2-week courses in Ethiopia, Cameroon and Kenya providing continuing medical education in the field of ophthalmology. A total of 84 ophthalmologists participated in this survey. The main reasons for staying in their current region/country were good working conditions, commitment to help, possibility of further training, familial ties and general feeling of satisfaction. Professional development elsewhere and better income abroad were named as the main reasons for considering migration. Almost half of the survey participants reported good infrastructure, equipment, and consumables, which is encouraging. Programs aimed at continuing medical education of ophthalmologists to enable professional development may have an appropriate role in the establishment of an ophthalmic infrastructure which can meet patients' needs.
在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，眼科医生短缺是防治可避免失明工作中的一个主要障碍。训练有素的眼科医生外流对医疗护理人员数量不足产生了额外的负面影响。然而，迄今为止，影响眼科医生外流的原因尚未完全明了。本研究评估了眼科医生报告的留在当前工作岗位/国家的原因以及他们可能考虑移民的潜在原因。在2009年至2011年期间，在获得机构审查委员会批准后，一份评估眼科医生移民利弊的问卷被分发给在埃塞俄比亚、喀麦隆和肯尼亚参加为期两周眼科继续医学教育课程的学员。共有84名眼科医生参与了这项调查。留在当前地区/国家的主要原因是工作条件良好、有帮助他人的意愿、有进一步培训的可能性、家庭关系以及总体的满足感。在其他地方的职业发展和国外更高的收入被列为考虑移民的主要原因。几乎一半的调查参与者报告说基础设施、设备和耗材良好，这令人鼓舞。旨在为眼科医生提供继续医学教育以促进职业发展的项目，在建立能够满足患者需求的眼科基础设施方面可能会发挥适当作用。
