Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences
2 Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given the substantial role of information systems in planning and simplifying the
decision‑making process for the government, organizations, health centers, and facilitators, in order
to attract medical tourists from less developed and neighboring countries, the comprehensive Iranian
Medical Tourism Information System can be used. The objective of this study was to designing a
conceptual model for Iranian medical tourism information system.
METHODOLOGY: This study was carried out in a three‑step applied and combined method. In the
first step, a systematic review was done on the studies and then the reliability of the results was
checked during a semi‑structured in‑depth interview with 11 experts in medical tourism through open
questions. In the third step, the Delphi method was conducted quantitatively to get the ideas of 26
experts. SPSS software version 22 was used for factor analysis.
RESULTS: The proposed conceptual model for Iranian Medical Tourism Information System includes
a variety of services from the first moment of decision to travel until the moment of returning from a
medical journey, following up the treatment, and sharing the patients’ experiences.
CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that considering the commercial importance and financial
benefits of medical tourism, it should provide the necessary facilities to expedite the provision of
services to these foreign patients; consequently, an appropriate basis for attracting more medical
tourists from neighboring countries, developing countries, and even developed countries will be
provided.
Keywords
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