The Views of New Graduate Physicians about Compulsory Service in Turkey

The objective of this study is to analyze the views of new graduate physicians on compulsory service. This is an important study because it is the first study on the views of new graduate physicians on compulsory service prior to their employment in Turkey.
This study was conducted in Turkey in August 2008. All new graduate physicians prior to employment were included in the study, who filled out online questionnaires (Response Rate = 65.9%). Variables impacted physicians’ views on compulsory service were analyzed.
The total number of physicians tends to be less in relatively underdeveloped areas. A total of 49.0% of physicians found the practice of compulsory service useful. There is a statistically significant relationship between the views on the efficiency and need for compulsory service, and the choice of being a physician, regretting being a physician after being employed, and the views on solutions toward the maldistribution of physicians (P<.05).
The practice of compulsory service is beneficial for balancing the physician density in regions. Health Transformation Program (2003) activities are improving the inequality among the regions. Different policies should be developed and given to physicians to encourage them work in underdeveloped regions; they should also be made to see the health care need in the regions with fewer health care workforce. It is important to take these issues into consideration when developing policies toward the solution of this problem.