The mediatory role of violence against healthcare workers in the effect of healthcare workers' quality of work on their intention to migrate abroad

Low quality of work life, brain drain and exposure to violence are important problems faced by healthcare workers. These problems reduce the job satisfaction and motivation of healthcare workers, lead to professional burnout and negatively affect the quality of healthcare services. In addition, brain drain leads to a decrease in the number of qualified health workers in the country and serious deficits in the health system. Exposure to violence threatens the physical and psychological health of healthcare workers and necessitates the creation of safe working environments. The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between quality of work life, brain drain perceptions and exposure to violence in health care among health sector employees in Turkey. It also aims to determine how demographic characteristics such as gender, marital status and sector affect quality of work life, attitudes towards violence and brain drain perceptions. It also explores the relationship between exposure to violence and career satisfaction, including its role in migration intentions. In the study, independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used to determine the differences between groups, and structural equation modeling was also used. In addition to the questionnaire to determine demographic characteristics, the Brain Drain Attitude Scale developed by Öncü et al. (2018), the Quality of Work Life Scale developed by Akar and Üstünler (2017) and the Attitudes Towards Violence Questionnaire developed by Çelik and Çelik (2007) were used in the study. The sample of the study consists of 331 healthcare workers. The results show that quality of work-life differs significantly by sector, with private sector employees reporting higher scores than those in the public sector. In addition, perceptions of brain drain are affected by marital status and having children, and unmarried and childless individuals perceive migration as more attractive. Structural equation modeling reveals that exposure to violence is positively associated with brain drain attitudes. However, quality of work-life does not directly affect brain drain perceptions. In addition, health care workers working in the private sector are more likely to be exposed to violence than those working in the public sector. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies to improve quality of work-life, reduce violence in healthcare and address brain drain concerns. Increasing occupational satisfaction and providing safe working environments can significantly reduce migration intentions among health workers. Keywords: Quality of Work Life, Brain Drain, Health Sector, Violence, Demographic Effects.