Zhang Yajie, Zheng Luyue, Wang Xiaoli, Shen Xiuhua, Feng Yi, Niu Yang, Cai Wei
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China.
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, NO.1665, Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China.
Global Health. 2025 Apr 1;21(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12992-025-01108-5.
Although international mobility of medical personnel has gained scholarly attention, there has been limited empirical research on overseas-educated dietetic professionals. China has experienced a notable return of highly skilled professionals. This study aims to explore the experiences of Chinese overseas-educated dietetic returnees, focusing on their practice areas, job satisfaction, motivations for returning, post-return challenges, and career development strategies.
A web-based survey, conducted from July to December 2022, targeted dietetic returnees with degree(s) from institutions outside mainland China. Participants were recruited from professional group chats on a social media platform. Job satisfaction was assessed using a 7-item scale, with responses ranging from 0 to 5 for each item. Its internal consistency was evaluated via Cronbach's alpha. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and ANOVA. A multivariate regression helps further predict job satisfaction. Thematic analysis guides the analysis of an open-ended question.
Participants (N = 138) were mainly female (86.2%), had a master's degree (79.0%), and had studied in the United States (37.7%). Clinical roles dominated post-return employment, but returnees also pursued biomedicine, biotechnology, and media. The mean job satisfaction score of 3.39 indicated moderate satisfaction. Job satisfaction varied across subgroups (e.g., older participants); however, in the multivariable regression model, only salary level remained a significant predictor. Key motivations for returning included familial ties, societal connections, and a desire to contribute to home country development. Returnees identified limited domestic networking connections as a top challenge. Meanwhile, they demonstrated agency in navigating post-return career development, such as by leveraging transnational social networks. Returnees also envisioned systematic workforce changes, such as improving licensure and regulation for foreign-trained professionals.
Returnees have diverse career pathways. Post-return job satisfaction, however, was significantly predicted only by salary level, emphasizing the critical role of compensation and economic viability in sustaining careers in the dietetic field. Our findings suggest that while returnees were primarily motivated by personal and cultural factors, they faced significant re-entry challenges that warrant attention from educators and policymakers. Future research should explore the global mobility of the dietetic profession and its potential to contribute to 'brain gain' in China's healthcare sector.
尽管医务人员的国际流动已受到学界关注，但针对在海外接受教育的营养专业人员的实证研究却很有限。中国经历了高技能专业人员显著的回流现象。本研究旨在探索中国海外学成归来的营养专业人员的经历，重点关注他们的执业领域、工作满意度、回国动机、回国后面临的挑战以及职业发展策略。
2022年7月至12月进行了一项基于网络的调查，目标是那些拥有中国大陆以外机构学位的归国营养专业人员。参与者是从一个社交媒体平台上的专业群组聊天中招募的。工作满意度使用一个7项量表进行评估，每个项目的回答范围是0到5。通过克朗巴哈系数评估其内部一致性。使用描述性统计、t检验和方差分析对回答进行分析。多元回归有助于进一步预测工作满意度。主题分析指导对一个开放式问题的分析。
参与者（N = 138）主要为女性（86.2%），拥有硕士学位（79.0%），且曾在美国学习（37.7%）。回国后的就业以临床岗位为主，但归国人员也涉足生物医学､生物技术和媒体领域。工作满意度平均得分为3.39，表明满意度中等。工作满意度在不同亚组（如年龄较大的参与者）中有所不同；然而，在多变量回归模型中，只有薪资水平仍然是一个显著的预测因素。回国的主要动机包括家庭关系､社会关系以及为祖国发展做贡献的愿望。归国人员认为国内人脉关系有限是首要挑战。与此同时，他们在回国后的职业发展中展现出能动性，比如通过利用跨国社会网络。归国人员还设想了系统性的劳动力变革，比如改进对海外培训专业人员的执照颁发和监管。
归国人员有多样的职业道路。然而，回国后的工作满意度仅由薪资水平显著预测，这强调了薪酬和经济可行性在维持营养领域职业中的关键作用。我们的研究结果表明，虽然归国人员主要受个人和文化因素驱动，但他们面临重大的重新融入挑战，值得教育工作者和政策制定者关注。未来的研究应探索营养专业的全球流动性及其为中国医疗保健部门“人才流入”做出贡献的潜力。
