MEDTOUR: a scale for measuring medical tourism intentions

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to use a theoretical model to create a scale to predict medical tourism (MT) intentions.Design/methodology/approach -The theory of planned behavior (TPB) model was applied to MT by creating a 49-item questionnaire and collecting data from a convenience sample of 453 undergraduate students enrolled in a university located in the USA. Factor analysis was used to evaluate the results, and yielded a MEDTOUR scale containing 29 items.Findings -A regression of the three variables on an intentions scale of participation in MT had an R-value of 0.587. The model was able to explain around 35 percent of the variance in intentions. Given the general nature of the model and the first attempt at predicting MT, the results are positive.Research limitations/implications -This research is limited due to the use of a convenience sample of undergraduate students. Further research utilizing additional samples is needed to verify the MEDTOUR scale. In addition, future research can focus on demographic or other areas of interest in relation to the intention to participate in MT.Originality/value -The creation of the MEDTOUR scale represents a new application of the TPB to the area of MT. This theory-based scale is offered as a new tool for future research.

The Determinants of Medical Tourism Intentions: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior

“…However, they differ on the sample location and size, the definition of intention, and the methods used. Reddy et al (2010) surveyed students from a Midwestern university (N ¼ 336) and Martin et al (2011) surveyed students from a university based on the West Coast (N ¼ 453). Reddy et al (2010) predicted the intention to learn more about medical tourism; they used a one-item intention score, three-item scale for attitude, and one-item scale for subjective norm and behavioral control, respectively.…”

“…While student samples are frequently used for exploratory research, a more representative sample is appropriate for generalizing to the population. Martin et al (2011) investigated the factors predicting the intention to actually go overseas to receive a medical procedure. They applied a direct method of measurement and followed the theoretical structure proposed 168 Z. Ramamonjiarivelo et al My family and friends expect me to go overseas for medical treatment.…”

“…Such studies investigated the behavior, attitudes, and intentions of people towards medical tourism (Gan & Frederick, 2011b;Martin et al, 2011;Mechinda, Serirat, Anuwichanont, & Guild, 2010;Reddy et al, 2010;Yu & Ko, 2011) and patients' perception of service quality found in foreign medical tourism destinations (Guiry & Vequist, 2011). The TPB suggests that the actual execution of certain behavior is mainly a function of the person's intention to execute the behavior (Ajzen, 1985;Ajzen & Madden, 1986).…”

Medical tourism service quality: finally some empirical findings

“…For example, Chen, Kung, Huang, Chen, and Pei (2012) studied the willingness and barriers of potential medical tourists from China to seek treatment in Taiwan. Martin, Ramamonjiarivelo and Martin (2011) developed MEDTOUR, which is a scale for measuring medical tourism intention. However, the respondents comprised a convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled in a four-year state university programme.…”

Social media in tourism: Establishing factors influencing attitudes towards the usage of social networking sites for trip organisation

“…A study by Alam and Sayuti (2011) found that PBC influences the intention to purchase halal food. Martin, Ramamonjiarivelo and Martin (2011) found that PBC is an important factor that influences travel intention. However, Sentosa and Nik Mat (2012) examined the applicability of TPB in Internet purchase behaviour and concluded that PBC is not an important determinant of behavioural intention.…”