International hospital outshopping: a staged model of push and pull factors

Veerasoontorn, Ruamsak; Beise–Zee, Rian

doi:10.1108/17506121011076174

Cited by 39 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Posters of all ages traveled from many countries across the globe seeking care in Turkey for procedures that were unavailable or unaffordable in their home country, or not covered by insurance. This finding aligned with other studies on the drivers of patients looking for health care abroad [ 23 , 56 , 57 ]. Although wait time for procedures is noted as a push factor for some individuals seeking care abroad [ 4 , 10 , 17 , 58 ], none of the posters wrote that they were waiting for care in their home country.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

In the Words of the Medical Tourist: An Analysis of Internet Narratives by Health Travelers to Turkey

Ozan-Rafferty¹,

Johnson²,

Shah³

et al. 2014

J Med Internet Res

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BackgroundPatients regularly travel to the West for advanced medical care, but now the trend is also shifting in the opposite direction. Many people from Western countries now seek care outside of their country. This phenomenon has been labeled medical tourism or health travel. Information regarding health travelers’ actual outcomes, experiences, and perceptions is lacking or insufficient. However, advanced Internet technology and apps provide information on medical tourism and are a vehicle for patients to share their experiences. Turkey has a large number of internationally accredited hospitals, is a top tourism destination, and is positioning itself to attract international patients.ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to identify the important individual characteristics of health travelers, outline the push and pull factors for seeking health care in Turkey, identify satisfaction with the outcomes and the results of these individuals’ treatments, and note positive and negative factors influencing their perceptions and overall experiences about patients’ health travel.MethodsThis research uses qualitative data from Internet narratives of medical tourists to Turkey. Ethical considerations of using Internet narratives were reviewed. Narratives for analysis were obtained by using the Google search engine and using multiple search terms to obtain publicly posted blogs and discussion board postings of health travelers via purposeful sampling. Narratives were included if they were written in English, described travel to Turkey for health care, and were publicly accessible. Exclusion criteria included narratives that were on medical tourism facilitator or provider promotional websites, not in English, and did not describe an experience of a medical tourist. Medical tourists’ written words were analyzed in an iterative analytic process using narrative analysis theory principles. Three stages of coding (open, axial, and selective) were conducted to identify characteristics and themes using qualitative analysis software.ResultsThe narrative posts of 36 individuals undergoing 47 procedures who traveled to Turkey for medical care between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed. The narratives came from 13 countries, not including the narratives for which patient origin could not be determined. Travelers were predominantly from Europe (16/36, 44%) and North America (10/36, 28%). Factors driving travelers away from their home country (push factors) were cost and lack of treatment options or insufficient insurance coverage in their home country. Leading factors attracting patients to destination (pull factors) were lower costs, physician’s expertise and responsiveness, and familiarity or interest in Turkey. Health travelers to Turkey were generally satisfied with the outcomes of their procedures and care provided by their physicians, many noting intent to return. Communication challenges, food, transportation, and gaps in customer service emerged as key areas for improvement.ConclusionsThis analysis provides an understanding of t...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

In the Words of the Medical Tourist: An Analysis of Internet Narratives by Health Travelers to Turkey

Ozan-Rafferty¹,

Johnson²,

Shah³

et al. 2014

J Med Internet Res

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“…Therefore, it also has a significant competitive advantage for dental services compared with other countries. The country is well known for its affordable care, the state-of-the-art technology, better efficiency and excellent service (Chongthanavanit & Kheokao, 2018;Veerasoontorn & Beise-Zee, 2010). Dental treatment is the third most utilized service by international patients in Thailand and accounts for 11% of Thailand's health tourism market (13,382 million baht or 426 USD million US).…”

Section: Dental Tourism In Thailandmentioning

confidence: 99%

The level and determinants of international patient satisfaction with dental tourism in Bangkok, Thailand

Liwin

Punnakitikasem

Thananusak

2021

Cogent Business & Management

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Along with the medical tourism industry, dental tourism has become a trending industry as many patients travel around the world to receive dental treatment. This research aims to analyze the level of international patient satisfaction with the dental tourism experience in Bangkok, and to identify the determinants that significantly influence patient satisfaction. This study applied a crosssectional research design and a quantitative research method. The data were collected using questionnaires. A total of 106 respondents were involved in this study. Descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to address the research objectives of the study. It was found that international patients are highly satisfied with their dental tourism experiences in Bangkok. In addition, the results showed that quality of dental treatment, location accessibility and destination appeal have a positive and significant influence on dental tourist satisfaction. This study provides valuable inputs for dental care providers by highlighting the determinants and their relationships to dental tourist satisfaction to overcome challenges in this competitive market.

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“…In wellness tourism, the touristic experience is an essential part of health provision (Mü ller and Lanz Kaufmann, 2001;Voigt et al, 2011). Medical tourism, by contrast, describes ''international out-shopping'' of medical care for which the touristic component is not an added value but merely an inconvenience or an additional monetary as well as socio-emotional cost factor (Veerasoonthorn and Beise-Zee, 2010).…”

Section: Wellness Effects Of Destinationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumer perception of healthfulness and appraisal of health‐promoting tourist destinations

Chang

Beise–Zee

2013

Tourism Review

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Purpose -The article seeks to study consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health-promoting destination. Health-promoting destinations often attempt to scientifically prove health benefits. It is suggested that health destinations should instead attempt to reflect consumers' preconceived health beliefs, rather than reform them. The aim is to test the applicability of the expectation-disconfirmation theory to health promoting destinations and to offer recommendations for place marketing of destinations which are positioned as proving health benefits. Design/methodology/approach -Cognitive dissonance is a central theoretical concept in the model of consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health-promoting destination. The authors suggest that low cognitive dissonance between subjective health beliefs and the characteristics of a destination results in positive customer evaluations of the destination. This hypothesis was tested through regression analysis of data collected via a survey of 240 visitors at seven hot spring resorts in Taiwan.Findings -The study suggests that the subjective beliefs of tourists regarding what is healthful are important criteria for tourists to evaluate the health benefits of a destination.Research limitations/implications -The expectation-disconfirmation theory is successfully applied to the tourism sector and health care.Practical implications -Based on the results, consumer research about what is believed to be beneficial to health is important when designing and promoting a health place.Originality/value -Destinations have been mostly studied as wellness destinations. However, many destinations promote scientific health benefits. The effect of consumer health perceptions on the attractiveness of health-promoting destinations has received little attention. While common in tourism, the results are a novel approach to health care destinations.

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International hospital outshopping: a staged model of push and pull factors

Cited by 39 publications

References 46 publications

In the Words of the Medical Tourist: An Analysis of Internet Narratives by Health Travelers to Turkey

In the Words of the Medical Tourist: An Analysis of Internet Narratives by Health Travelers to Turkey

The level and determinants of international patient satisfaction with dental tourism in Bangkok, Thailand

Consumer perception of healthfulness and appraisal of health‐promoting tourist destinations

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