Understanding why oral health professionals migrate: A qualitative investigation of Iranian dentists who have moved to Canada (Oral health professionals’ migration)

BACKGROUND: The migration of health professionals from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to High-Income countries (HICs) is an ongoing phenomenon that has been accelerating with globalisation. While there has been growing research around the migration of physicians and nurses, there is less understanding of the motives surrounding the migration of dentists, and even less about their migration from specific countries. OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study explores the migration motivations of Iranian dentists who have moved to Canada. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews of 18 Iranian-trained dentists in Canada were conducted to obtain information about their motives for migration. Interviews were coded and categorised into themes using qualitative thematic analysis. RESULTS: Motivations to migrate were grouped into four analytical areas: socio-political; economic; professional; and personal. An inverse relationship was identified between the strongest motives to migrate and the topics respondents were least comfortable discussing. Socio-political-related motives were predominant with respondents focusing on their dissatisfaction with the social ethos and restrictions on personal freedom within Iran. CONCLUSION: Country-specific context is critical to fully understand health professional migration; in particular, the dynamics and interplay between socio-political, economic, and professional/personal factors within the home country. While Iranian dentists’ motives to migrate have some similarities to other health professionals who migrated from Iran, and dentists from other countries, differences need to be considered to fully understand migration patterns.