Ahmed Muhammed, Sudi Abdullahi, Bello Ahmad, Lawal Ahmad Tijjani, Awaisu Mudi, Maitama Hussaini Yusuf
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University/Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
Niger Postgrad Med J. 2018 Apr-Jun;25(2):117-120. doi: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_54_18.
Medical tourism is a fast-growing business worldwide with almost every country involved as either a provider and/or consumer. The degree of participation may vary depending on the status of health-care system in that country. This study aims to present our experience in the management of patients who sought urologic care abroad or returned from medical tourism with urologic complications.
The method of study was based on the documentation of interaction with patients, patients' relations and their agents in a questionnaire between January 2010 and December 2015. The data obtained included, their demographics, indications/motivations for seeking treatment abroad, procedures performed and complications. We also documented the secondary procedures that were performed and complications managed in our center. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using descriptive statistics, tables and figures.
A total of 113 have either indicated intention of going to seek for urological care abroad or had already had urologic procedures abroad but were attending our clinic for follow up or for management of complications. Only about 12% of these patients were found to have genuine indications for seeking care abroad. Most of the indications were not justifiably based on the current capabilities of our health facility but more due to a lack of trust in the system or at worst pretentious.
Patients seek for treatment abroad for variable reasons but and most could not be justified based on available local options. India and some Middle-East countries were the favoured destinations, and the quality of care and relative lower cost are the major attractions. The rising trend in medical tourism is fuelled by the poor state of our health-care system, perceived dearth of expertise and a general apathy and lack of trust.
医疗旅游是一项在全球范围内迅速发展的业务，几乎每个国家都作为提供者和/或消费者参与其中。参与程度可能因该国医疗保健系统的状况而异。本研究旨在介绍我们在管理寻求国外泌尿科护理或因医疗旅游归来并伴有泌尿科并发症的患者方面的经验。
研究方法基于2010年1月至2015年12月期间通过问卷调查记录与患者、患者亲属及其代理人的互动情况。获得的数据包括他们的人口统计学信息、寻求国外治疗的指征/动机、所进行的手术及并发症。我们还记录了在我们中心进行的二次手术及处理的并发症。数据录入Microsoft Excel并使用描述性统计、表格和图表进行分析。
共有113名患者表示有去国外寻求泌尿科护理的意向，或者已经在国外接受了泌尿科手术，但前来我们诊所进行随访或处理并发症。这些患者中只有约12%被发现有真正去国外就医的指征。大多数指征并非基于我们医疗机构目前的能力合理得出，更多是由于对该系统缺乏信任，或者最糟糕的情况是矫揉造作。
患者寻求国外治疗的原因各不相同，但基于现有的当地选择，大多数情况并无正当理由。印度和一些中东国家是热门目的地，护理质量和相对较低的成本是主要吸引力。医疗旅游的上升趋势是由我们医疗保健系统的糟糕状况、专业知识的匮乏以及普遍的冷漠和缺乏信任所推动的。
