Persian
Volume 39, Issue 2 (2024)                   GeoRes 2024, 39(2): 215-223 | Back to browse issues page
Article Type:
Original Research |
Subject:

Print XML Persian Abstract PDF HTML

Research code: 1612


History

How to cite this article
Alidadi S, Dehghan H, Rezaei N. The Role of Cultural Factors in the Development of Medical Tourism in Primary Health Tourism Centers in Iran. GeoRes 2024; 39 (2) :215-223
URL: http://georesearch.ir/article-1-1612-en.html
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Rights and permissions
1- Department of Sociology, Economics and Development, Faculty of Humanities, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3- Tourism Research Group, Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Tehran, Iran
* Corresponding Author Address: Tourism and Handicrafts, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Corner of Rodaki Street, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran. Postal Code: 1457814561 (dehqan.azad@gmail.com)
Abstract   (874 Views)
Aims: This study aimed to examine the influence of social factors on the growth of medical tourism in primary health tourism centers in Iran, taking into account the significant role of the medical tourism industry in the global economy and Iran's capabilities in this sector.
Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive-analytical approach, collecting quantitative data through a questionnaire tool between 2021 and 2023. The research's statistical population consists of medical tourists from the five main provinces known for providing comprehensive health tourism services: Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Ahvaz. A total of 384 people were chosen for the study using a combination of cluster sampling and quota sampling methods. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 22 software and Lisrel structural equation modeling software.
Findings: The rise of medical tourism is strongly correlated with influential social variables, particularly spiritual culture and material culture. By employing the structural equations model, it was found that the coefficient for spiritual culture was 0.92, whereas the coefficient for material culture was 0.73. The cumulative effect of these social factors was determined to be 0.61.
Conclusion: Cultural influences, including spiritual and material culture, play a crucial role in defining the medical tourism industry in Iran's main health tourism centers.
Keywords:

References
1. Adams EK, Wright GE (1991). Hospital choice of medicare beneficiaries in a rural market: Why not the closest?. The Journal of Rural Health. 7(2):134-152. [Link] [DOI:10.1111/j.1748-0361.1991.tb00715.x]
2. Alizadeh S, Chavan M (2016). Cultural competence dimensions and outcomes: A systematic review of the literature. Health and Social Care in the Community. 24(6):117-130. [Link] [DOI:10.1111/hsc.12293]
3. Bakhtiarivafa P (2020). Design of the space provided with Health Tourism Promotion Approach (case study of Hamedan city). [Dissertation]. Hamedan: Institute of Higher Education, Hamedan Branch of ACECR. [Persian] [Link]
4. Bartzis G, Kaitelidou D, Bistaraki A, Konstantakopoulou O (2020). Factors affecting medical tourism destination selection in Greece. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 272:314-317. [Link]
5. Baycan T (2013). Knowledge commercialization and valorization in regional economic development. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. [Link] [DOI:10.4337/9781781004074]
6. Chambers N, Cifter A (2022). Working capital management and firm performance in the hospitality and tourism industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 102:103144. [Link] [DOI:10.1016/j.ijhm.2022.103144]
7. Chang L, Beise-Zee R (2013). Consumer perception of healthfulness and appraisal of health-promoting tourist destinations. Tourism Review. 68(1):34-47. [Link] [DOI:10.1108/16605371311310066]
8. Connell J (2013). Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and commodification. Tourism Management. 34:1-13. [Link] [DOI:10.1016/j.tourman.2012.05.009]
9. Duffy LN, Kline C, Mowatt R, Chancellor C (2001). Women's health and wellness. New York: Sage Publications. [Link]
10. Ehrbeck T, Guevara C, Mango PD (2008). Mapping the market for medical travel. Seattle: The McKinsey Quarterly. [Link]
11. Esiyok B, Çakar M, Kurtulmuşoğlu FB (2017). The effect of cultural distance on medical tourism. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management. 6(1):66-75. [Link] [DOI:10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.03.001]
12. Geitona M, Sarantopoulos J (2015). Medical tourism: Investment in health and economy. Athens: Papazisis. [Link]
13. Ghasemi Yalghouzaghaj A, Assadzadeh A, Imani Khoshkhoo MH, Jabbarzadeh Y (2018). The impact of medical tourism motivational factors on behavioral intentions of tourists: The mediating role of perceptual factors and satisfaction. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development. 7(24):59-81. [Persian] [Link]
14. Giddens A (1985). The nation-state and violence. Berkeley: University of California Press. [Link]
15. Glinos IA, Baeten R, Helble M, Maarse H (2010). A typology of cross-border patient mobility. Health and Place. 16(6):1145-1155. [Link] [DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.08.001]
16. Helmy EM, Travers R (2009). Towards the development of Egyptian medical tourism sector. Anatolia. 20(2):419-439. [Link] [DOI:10.1080/13032917.2009.10518918]
17. Herrick DM (2007). Medical tourism: Global competition in health care. Texas: National Center for Policy Analysis. No. 304. [Link]
18. Horowitz MD, Rosensweig JA, Jones CA (2007). Medical tourism: Globalization of the healthcare marketplace. Medscape General Medicine. 9(4):33-42. [Link]
19. Izadi H (2002). A perspective on the global impact of Islamic cultures and civilizations. MESBAH. 10(37):57-76. [Persian] [Link]
20. Kharazmi A, Rahnama MR, Javan J, Shokouhi MA (2016). Factors affecting the promotion of health tourism; Comparative view of foreign tourists and domestic managers. Journal of North Khorasan. 8(3):405-416. [Persian] [Link] [DOI:10.18869/acadpub.jnkums.8.3.405]
21. Lee C, Spisto M (2007). Medical tourism, the future of health services. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on ISO 9000 and TQM. Taiwan: National Chin-Yi University of Technology. p. 1-7. [Link]
22. Mosadeghrad AM, Sadeghi M (2021). Medical tourism: Reasons for choosing Iran. PAYESH. 20(2):145-166. [Persian] [Link] [DOI:10.52547/payesh.20.2.145]
23. Mamramezani K (2017). Evaluation of health tourism as an approach in the development of border areas, case study: Kurdistan province [Dissertation]. Tehran: Tehran University [Persian] [Link]
24. Ramezani Hajimahaleh A (2019). Spatial analysis of health tourism in urban areas (case study: public hospitals in Tehran) [Dissertation]. Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University. [Persian] [Link]
25. Rokni L, Park SH, Avci T (2019). Improving medical tourism services through human behaviour and cultural competence. Iranian Journal of Public Health. 48(11):1988-1996. [Link] [DOI:10.18502/ijph.v48i11.3517]
26. Salasi M (2000). World of Iran and Iran's world. Tehran: Markaz Publications. [Persian] [Link]
27. Sandberg D (2017). Medical tourism: An emerging global healthcare industry. International Journal of Healthcare Management. 10(4):281-288. [Link] [DOI:10.1080/20479700.2017.1296213]
28. Smith M, Puczko L (2014). Health, tourism and hospitality: Spas, wellness and medical travel. London: Routledge. [Link] [DOI:10.4324/9780203083772]
29. Smith PC, Forgione DA (2007). Global outsourcing of healthcare: A medical tourism decision model. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research. 9(3):19-30. [Link] [DOI:10.1080/15228053.2007.10856117]
30. Theofanides F, Papanikolaou V (2012). Exploring and exploiting medical tourism opportunities in Greece. Proceedings of the 2nd Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing & Management Conference, Corfu, Greece. [Link]
31. Traouda V, Mpogiatzidis P (2021). Dialysis and medical tourism. Investigating patients' perceptions in Greece. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare. 14(5):411-425. [Link] [DOI:10.1108/IJHRH-10-2020-0090]
32. Velissariou E, Triantafyllos T (2014). Tourism and medical services. The case of elective medical tourism in Northern Greece. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation. Poland: EJTHR. [Link]
33. Yang JY, Paek S, Kim T, Lee TH (2015). Health tourism: Needs for healing experience and intentions for transformation in wellness resorts in Korea. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 27(8):1881-1904. [Link] [DOI:10.1108/IJCHM-11-2013-0505]
34. Zargham Boroujeni H, Sedaghat M (2018). A process model for sustainable tourism development of Islamic Republic of Iran (a Grounded Theory Model based on five-year economic, social and cultural plans of Iran), Journal of Tourism and Development. 7(3):25-73. [Persian] [Link]