Importance-performance analysis of medical tourism in Iran from medical tourists and medical services provider's perspective: 2011.

Abstract

Developing countries seek to alternative revenue sources. Iran as one of these countries with high potentiality for attracting medical tourist is seeking to enter medical tourism market. The study aimed to analyze the importance- performance of Tehran Province medical tourism as viewed by medical tourists and medical services providers. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in Tehran selected hospitals in the first three months of 2011. The data were gathered using a validated self-constructed questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques. The results of the study indicate that the majority of medical tourists are attracted from the United Arab Emirates (%22.3). The respondents considered medical tourism factors as important (M=4.40±0.61). The Tehran selected hospitalsperformance is average as related to medical tourism factors (M=2.75±0.66). Despite the importance given to medical tourism factors by medical tourists and medical services providers, Tehran selected hospitalsperformance is average and no serious attempts are being made to attract medical tourists at macro level. Although quality, variety and cost of medical services and equipment in the selected hospitals are satisfactory, International accreditation of hospitals is still a major problem.