Why do patients engage in medical tourism?

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 300 - 304
• Main Authors: Runnels, Vivien, Carrera, P.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Choice; Decision Making; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health information; Health Services Accessibility - economics; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical decision-making; Medical sciences; Medical tourism; Medical Tourism - economics; Medical Tourism - psychology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female); Unmet need; Medical decision-making; Choice; Medical tourism; Unmet need; Health information; Human; Decision making; Health
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.08.011

Abstract Medical tourism is commonly perceived and popularly depicted as an economic issue, both at the system and individual levels. The decision to engage in medical tourism, however, is more complex, driven by patients’ unmet need, the nature of services sought and the manner by which treatment is accessed. In order to beneficially employ the opportunities medical tourism offers, and address and contain possible threats and harms, an informed decision is crucial. This paper aims to enhance the current knowledge on medical tourism by isolating the focal content of the decisions that patients make. Based on the existing literature, it proposes a sequential decision-making process in opting for or against medical care abroad, and engaging in medical tourism, including considerations of the required treatments, location of treatment, and quality and safety issues attendant to seeking care. Accordingly, it comments on the imperative of access to health information and the current regulatory environment which impact on this increasingly popular and complex form of accessing and providing medical care.