Osterle A, Balázs P, Delgado J
Vienna University of Economics, Institute for Social Policy, Vienna, Austria.
Br Dent J. 2009 Apr 25;206(8):425-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.308.
Despite quite lively debates about dental care tourism, scientific studies into the size and the characteristics of the phenomenon remain widely lacking. The present study is the first to measure the phenomenon in one of the most prominent destination countries, Hungary, with a particular focus on the Western Hungarian region and the capital Budapest.
A questionnaire has been sent to dentists in these regions. The response rate is 25.3% in Western Hungary and 20.7% in Budapest.
According to the survey, patients from neighbouring countries dominate dental care tourism in the border regions of Western Hungary, while Budapest attracts more patients from countries further away. In terms of motivation, dentists regard relative price levels but also service considerations as being of major importance for patients coming to Hungary for dental care.
The study confirms Hungary as a centre for dental care tourism, attracting patients from bordering countries but also patients travelling longer distances. Price levels have been a major factor making Hungary an international treatment destination. With price differences narrowing down, broader service quality is increasingly emphasised as a selling strategy.
尽管关于牙科护理旅游的讨论颇为热烈，但对该现象的规模和特征的科学研究仍普遍匮乏。本研究首次对匈牙利这一最著名的目的地国家之一的该现象进行了测量，特别关注匈牙利西部地区和首都布达佩斯。
向这些地区的牙医发放了问卷。匈牙利西部地区的回复率为25.3%，布达佩斯为20.7%。
根据调查，来自邻国的患者在匈牙利西部边境地区的牙科护理旅游中占主导地位，而布达佩斯吸引了更多来自更远国家的患者。在动机方面，牙医认为相对价格水平以及服务考量对来匈牙利进行牙科护理的患者至关重要。
该研究证实匈牙利是牙科护理旅游中心，既吸引来自周边国家的患者，也吸引行程更远的患者。价格水平一直是使匈牙利成为国际治疗目的地的主要因素。随着价格差异缩小，更广泛的服务质量作为一种销售策略越来越受到重视。
