Should I stay or should I go?: Motivators, decision factors, and information sources influencing those predisposed to medical tourism

Abstract

This exploratory study, employing a national sampling of persons in the USA, focused on a group of respondents who self-identified as willing to consider seeking medical care abroad, otherwise known as medical tourism. To learn more about how such individuals approach the decision of whether to engage in medical tourism, they were surveyed regarding their motivations to do so, the decision factors they would consider important, and the information sources they would consult. In addition, the study sought to determine if these responses differed across several variables, such as: (a) the nature of the medical condition for which treatment is sought (life threatening, serious but not life threatening, medically optional or life enhancing), (b) prior international travel experience and prior receipt of care abroad, (c) confidence that their health insurance was sufficient to cover current and future medical needs, (d) risk aversion, and (e) a number of basic demographic variables. The results contribute to limited empirical research on the consumer decision-making process of those considering medical tourism. Findings provide tentative guidance to countries and healthcare providers marketing their services to medical tourists, as well as to domestic healthcare providers either competing against or referring patients to medical tourism options.

Keywords:

• Medical tourism
• Medical decision making
• Sources of medical tourism information