Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the reasons for the relocation of contracted family physicians and the relationship of this situation with burnout and job satisfaction status. Methods: This study was conducted with contracted family physicians in Bursa province between May 2019 and December 2019.The physicians were visited in the family health centres where they worked. The participants were asked to fill out a socio-demographic data form, Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. In addition, physicians who had relocated were asked to fill out a questionnaire examining the reasons for this change. Results: The most common reasons for the relocation of physicians were distance from home (65.30%), novelty seeking (25.60%) and burnout (24.80%). Being female (P = 0.004), duration of medical experience (P < 0.001), shorter time passed in family practice (P = 0.043) and job dissatisfaction (P = 0.006) were risk factors for relocation in a regression analysis model. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a cut-off point value for the Minnesota overall score as <= 3. Conclusions: In family practice, it is favourable to provide continuity of care to the patient with the same physician. However, migration of physicians within the province for social and cultural reasons to more prosperous regions, often to where they live, was observed. Young female family doctors will probably continue to migrate to better locations within the city regardless of payment advantages in poor settlements. The roles of female physicians in society (as mother, wife and daughter) may have an effect on this preference. Lay summary Results obtained in this study can be tested in further national and international studies so that we can understand whether the factors we detected had general or cultural importance. Comparisons of rural versus urban family physicians in relation to relocation can be studied in the future research. Improvements in job satisfaction after relocation is another study question that needs to be answered. Possibly providing safe working circumstances and attractive housing could help to retain family physicians in health care centres, which now are subject to frequently relocating physicians. It would be better to answer the question `how can we make these places more attractive for young female physicians?'
