Identification of the requirements for designing medical tourism information system of Iran.

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.