Objectives: The aim of the research is to assess the reasons of Hungarian physiotherapists working abroad and their current working conditions. In addition, our priority is to examine the satisfaction of our colleagues working abroad and to get an overview of the working conditions in the case of returning home.

Methods: We obtained data between November 2018 and February 2019 by condacting a self-designed questionnaire and the Efford-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire, filled out by 112 physiotherapists, mainly from France (n=38) and Austria (n=36), but we have responders from Germany (n=12), Switzerland (n=11), England (n=9), Italy (n=2), United Arab Emirates (n=2), Sweden (n=1) and Belgium (n=1) also.

Results: The physiotherapists' migration was primarily driven by the desire for a better quality of life, a more predictable vision and more favorable financial situation (77.7%), and better working conditions (57.1%). The consideration of financial situation has a significant effect on the chances of remaining abroad (p=0.001). The perception of the current life situation is significantly correlated with the chances of further foreign employment, which is clearly positive among the surveyed persons (p=0.001). The perception of the actual life situation is clearly related to the fact that it is not necessary for the respondents to take a second job for financial consideration (p=0.016). Before leaving, 23.2% of physiotherapists planned to work abroad forever, at the time of the survey this figure was 46.4%. 39.3% of our respondents do not face any negative factors in a foreign country. There are no reasons for returning home for 26.8% of the respondents, 69.6% would return home with more favorable financial conditions and 51.8% with better working conditions.

Conclusions: Physiotherapists working abroad have mainly left for better quality of life and more favorable financial conditions. Nevertheless the change of these conditions would encourage them to come home.