Potential Factors Affecting Medical Tourists’ Viewpoint About Healthcare Services Quality in Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

<strong>Background and Objectives</strong>: Recently medical tourism as a new form of tourism has gained great popularity among the countries and a relatively large part of the world income is devoted to it. Since the <em>high quality of service in the medical tourists' </em>viewpoint has been a key factor in attracting and retaining them, the present study aimed to demonstrate which variables could affect the medical tourists' perspective about service quality.<br /> <strong>Methods</strong>: We applied univariate analysis and multiple regression to explore the variables affecting medical tourists' viewpoint about service quality they received. In order to measure the<em>quality of service,</em> we used SERVQUAL scale based on a gap model.<br /> <strong>Findings</strong>: The findings showed nationality and type of therapy are the influential factors that affect patients' perspective.<br /> <strong>Conclusions</strong>: Understanding the demographic characteristics of medical tourists helps the authorities to make better decisions and change their strategies in offering services in order to raise medical tourists' attraction and trust and also develop this type of industry.