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Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 47 - 53, 31.07.2024

Hüseyin Can , Sıdıka Ece Yokuş

https://doi.org/10.22391/fppc.1436007
Cited By: 1

Abstract

Introduction: Health tourism, defined as travels aimed to improve the physical and mental health of individuals, is growing day by day in parallel with developing technology and transportation. Factors influencing the preference of Türkiye in health tourism include cost, tourism opportunities, and cultural characteristics, as well as health facilities, staff, doctors, and the quality level of service. Due to the focus of human health, the service delivery which is very sensitive should be carried out by qualified workforce. With their role in protecting patients from unnecessary tests and treatments and facilitating effective participation in clinical decision-making processes, family physicians are also involved in the health tourism process and advocate. It is aimed to improve the service provision both qualitatively and quantitatively to meet the predicted increase in the health tourism sector in our country. In line with the realization of these goals, education and training activities offered by higher education institutions come into prominence. It’s aimed in our study to quantitatively investigate the adequacy of education in the field of health tourism in our country and to assess it in light of current data.
Methods: The data of the cross-sectional and descriptive study were collected during the 2023-2024 academic years. Education programs and the number of students in the field of health tourism between 2018-2023 at 18 institutions under the Council of Higher Education (YOK) and The Measuring, Selection and Placement Center (OSYM) were examined. Obtained data were brought together with health tourism data published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), the International Health Services Inc. (USHAS), and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).
Results: In Türkiye, for the first time in 2014, associate degree education started to be provided in the " Health Tourism Business" department within the Vocational School. This department, which is available in 9 universities today, has the highest percentage among associate degree preferences. Master's degree program level trainings in health tourism continue in 9 universities across 3 different departments: "Health Tourism", " Health Tourism Business " and "Health Tourism Management". Doctoral level education is provided in 1 university in the department of "Health Tourism". It is observed that the number of students and graduates enrolled in education programs in the field of health tourism is increasing every year. On the other hand, there is still no undergraduate program in this field in Türkiye. According to the data published by TUIK and USHAS, the number of visitors coming to our country for health tourism and the value of income is increasing every year. On the contrary, the number of students and graduates has not increased at the same rate in recent years.
Conclusions: The number of programs and quotas in the field of health tourism opened in universities is gradually increasing. However, when evaluated together with the increase in the number of visitors coming to our country for health tourism over the years, it has been revealed that the number of qualified staff trained to meet the increasing need is still not at the desired level.

Keywords

Medical Tourism Education Universities Family Practice

Ethical Statement

The study was carried out between September 2023 and June 2024. Ethics Committee approval was received from Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Ethics Committee (Date: 06.09.2023, Decision No: 20.478.486/1993). Since the study is retrospective, informed consent was not required.

References

  • 1. Lunt N, Smith R, Exworthy M, Green ST, Horsfall D, Mannion R. Medical tourism: treatments, markets and health system implications: a scoping review [Internet]. OECD; 2001. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/48723982.pdf (Access Date: January 5, 2024)
  • 2. Turner L. Medical tourism: family medicine and international health-related travel. Can Fam Physician. 2007;53(10):1639–41. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17934018/
  • 3. Ozturk M, Bayat M. [The role and quality of health tourism within international tourism movements-a literature survey] (in Turkish). KSÜ IIBF. 2011;1(2):135–56.
  • 4. Eris H, Barut S. [Medical tourism] (in Turkish). In: Eris H (ed). Medical tourism. 1st ed. Ankara: IKSAD Publishing House; 2020:51–60.
  • 5. Ustun U, Demir Uslu Y. [A study on the reasons why Turkey is preferred in health tourism: medical tourism index] (in Turkish). Eur J Sci Technol. 2022;33:344-53. https://doi.org/10.31590/ejosat.1020647
  • 6. Kayar A, Karaca Dedeoglu A. [Ethical issues in health tourism] (in Turkish). Turk J Bioeth. 2021;8(4):178-186. https://doi.org/10.5505/tjob.2021.82788
  • 7. Snyder J, Crooks VA, Johnston R, Dharamsi S. “Do your homework.and then hope for the best”: The challenges that medical tourism poses to Canadian family physicians’ support of patients’ informed decision-making. BMC Med Ethics. 2013;14(37):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-14-37
  • 8. Commission of the WONCA European Council. The European definition of General Practice/Family Medicine [Internet]. Spain: WHO Europe Office; 2023. Available at: https://www.woncaeurope.org/kb/european-definition-gp-fm-2023 (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 9. Presidency of Strategy and Budget. Eleventh development plan 2019-2023 [Internet]. Ankara: Publications of Presidency of Strategy and Budget. Available at: https://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Eleventh_Development_Plan_2019-2023.pdf (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 10. Saygili T, Diker O. [Health tourism education in Turkey] (in Turkish). JTM. 2022;3(1):59–69. https://doi.org/10.29329/jtm.2022.542.4
  • 11. YKS placement results [Internet]. Available at: https://www.osym.gov.tr/TR,25348/2023.html (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 12. Cappadocia University-history [Internet]. Available at: https://kapadokya.edu.tr/en/about/history (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 13. Higher Education Information Management System [Internet]. Available at: https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 14. Health Tourism Business-YÖK vocational atlas [Internet]. Available at: https://yokatlas.yok.gov.tr/meslek-onlisans.php?b=38005 (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 15. Health tourism data-USHAŞ [Internet]. Available at: https://www.ushas.com.tr/en/health-tourism-data/ (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 16. Wang H, Feng Y, Xu S, Xu X, Jiang K, Nie X, et al. Analysis of spatial-temporal pattern, dynamic evolution and influencing factors of health tourism development in China. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42462-x
  • 17. Bridget M, Nigel E. Reassessing employer expectations of graduates in UK travel services. Int J of Tourism Res 2008;10(5):409-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.670
  • 18. Ring A, Dickinger A, Wöber K. Designing the ideal undergraduate program in tourism: expectations from industry and educators. J Travel Res. 2009;48(1):106-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287508328789
  • 19. Blank C, Riedler C, Schobersberger W. Academic education in health tourism–knowledge about and willingness for academic training within the field of health tourism: a cross-country evaluation within the German-speaking alpine area. J Tourism Hospit 2013;2(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0269.1000109
  • 20. Goktas B. [Review of health tourism education] (in Turkish). Journal of Ankara Health Sciences. 2018;7(2):77–84.
  • 21. Ulusoy H, Tosun N, Akkum B. Health tourism education: the case of Turkey and the world. IJHMT. 2018;3(3):122-32. https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.435707
  • 22. Dastan I. [Health tourism in Turkey: swot analysis of health tourism in Turkey and İzmir, and strategy recommendations] (in Turkish). MAKU SOBED. 2014;6(10):143–63.
  • 23. Yigit AC, Acikgoz M. [Health tourism concept and health tourism in Turkey] (in Turkish). In: Akarsu T (ed). Pioneer and contemporary studies health sciences. 1st ed. İzmir: Duvar Publications; 2023:173–203.
  • 24. Icoz O. [Medical tourism and Turkey's opportunities within the scope of health tourism] (in Turkish). JoY. 2009;4(14):2257–79.
  • 25. Arsezen Otamıs P, Yuzbasioglu N. [The development of medical tourism cluster: example of Antalya] (in Turkish). YEAD. 2015;13(1):165–85
  • 26. Gorener A. [A SWOT-AHP approach for assessment of medical tourism sector in Turkey] (in Turkish). AJ. 2016;4(2):159–70. https://doi.org/10.17093/alphanumeric.277740

Türkiye'de sağlık turizmi alanında eğitim veren üniversitelerin güncel veriler ışığında değerlendirilmesi

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 47 - 53, 31.07.2024

Hüseyin Can , Sıdıka Ece Yokuş

https://doi.org/10.22391/fppc.1436007
Cited By: 1

Abstract

Giriş: Bireyin fiziksel ve zihinsel sağlığını iyileştirmeyi amaçlayan seyahatler olarak tanımlanan sağlık turizmi, gelişen teknoloji ve ulaşıma paralel olarak gün geçtikçe büyümektedir. Türkiye'nin sağlık turizmi açısından tercih edilmesini etkileyen faktörler arasında; maliyet, turizm olanakları ve kültürel özellikler ile sağlık tesisi, personel, doktorlar ve hizmetin kalite düzeyi yer almaktadır. İnsan sağlığının odak noktası olması nedeniyle oldukça hassas olan hizmet sunumunun nitelikli iş gücü tarafından yürütülmesi gerekmektedir. Hastaları gereksiz test ve tedavilerden koruma ve klinik karar alma süreçlerine etkin katılımı kolaylaştırmadaki rolü ile, aile hekimleri de sağlık turizmi sürecine dahil olmakta ve savunuculuk yapmaktadırlar. Ülkemizde sağlık turizmi sektöründe öngörülen artışı karşılamaya yönelik olarak, hizmet sunumunun nitel ve nicel olarak geliştirilmesi hedeflenmektedir. Bu hedefleri gerçekleştirme doğrultusunda yükseköğretim kurumlarının sunduğu eğitim ve öğretim faaliyetleri ön plana çıkmaktadır. Çalışmamızda ülkemizde sağlık turizmi alanındaki eğitimin yeterliliğinin sayısal olarak araştırılması ve güncel veriler ışığında incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir.
Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı tasarımda planlanan çalışmanın verileri, 2023-2024 eğitim öğretim dönemlerinde toplanmıştır. Yükseköğretim Kurulu (YÖK) ve Öğrenci Seçme Yerleştirme Merkezi (ÖSYM) bünyesindeki 18 kurumun 2018-2023 yıllarına ait sağlık turizmi alanındaki eğitim programları ve öğrenci sayıları incelenmiştir. Elde edilen veriler ile Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK), Uluslararası Sağlık Hizmetleri Anonim Şirketi (USHAŞ), Türkiye Seyahat Acentaları Birliği (TÜRSAB) tarafından yayınlanan sağlık turizmine dair veriler bir araya getirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Türkiye’de ilk olarak 2014 yılında, Meslek Yüksekokulu bünyesinde ‘’Sağlık Turizmi İşletmeciliği’’ bölümünde ön lisans düzeyinde eğitim verilmeye başlanmıştır. Günümüzde 9 üniversitede bulunan bölüm ön lisans tercihleri arasında en yüksek dilime sahiptir. Yüksek lisans programı düzeyindeki eğitimler; ‘’Sağlık Turizmi’’, ‘’Sağlık Turizmi İşletmeciliği’’ ve ‘’Sağlık Turizmi Yönetimi’’ olmak üzere, 3 farklı bölümde 9 üniversitede devam etmektedir. Doktora düzeyinde eğitim ‘’Sağlık Turizmi’’ bölümünde 1 üniversitede verilmektedir. Sağlık turizmi alanındaki eğitim programlarında kayıtlı öğrenci ve mezun sayılarının her geçen yıl giderek artmakta olduğu görülmektedir. Öte yandan, ülkemizde henüz bu bölümde eğitim veren herhangi bir lisans programı bulunmamaktadır. TÜİK ve USHAŞ tarafından yayınlanan verilere göre; ülkemize sağlık turizmi için gelen ziyaretçi sayısı ve gelire ait değerler her geçen yıl artış göstermektedir. Buna karşılık son yıllarda öğrenci ve mezun sayılarında aynı oranda artış gözlenmemektedir.
Sonuç: Üniversitelerde açılan sağlık turizmi alanındaki program ve kontenjan sayısı giderek artmaktadır. Bununla birlikte ülkemize sağlık turizmi için gelen ziyaretçi sayısındaki yıllara göre artış ile değerlendirildiğinde mevcut durumda artan ihtiyacı karşılamaya yönelik yetiştirilen nitelikli personel sayısının halen istenilen düzeyde olmadığı ortaya konmuştur.

Keywords

Tıbbi Turizm Eğitim Üniversiteler Aile Hekimliği

Ethical Statement

The study was carried out between September 2023 and June 2024. Ethics Committee approval was received from Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Ethics Committee (Date: 06.09.2023, Decision No: 20.478.486/1993). Since the study is retrospective, informed consent was not required.

References

  • 1. Lunt N, Smith R, Exworthy M, Green ST, Horsfall D, Mannion R. Medical tourism: treatments, markets and health system implications: a scoping review [Internet]. OECD; 2001. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/48723982.pdf (Access Date: January 5, 2024)
  • 2. Turner L. Medical tourism: family medicine and international health-related travel. Can Fam Physician. 2007;53(10):1639–41. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17934018/
  • 3. Ozturk M, Bayat M. [The role and quality of health tourism within international tourism movements-a literature survey] (in Turkish). KSÜ IIBF. 2011;1(2):135–56.
  • 4. Eris H, Barut S. [Medical tourism] (in Turkish). In: Eris H (ed). Medical tourism. 1st ed. Ankara: IKSAD Publishing House; 2020:51–60.
  • 5. Ustun U, Demir Uslu Y. [A study on the reasons why Turkey is preferred in health tourism: medical tourism index] (in Turkish). Eur J Sci Technol. 2022;33:344-53. https://doi.org/10.31590/ejosat.1020647
  • 6. Kayar A, Karaca Dedeoglu A. [Ethical issues in health tourism] (in Turkish). Turk J Bioeth. 2021;8(4):178-186. https://doi.org/10.5505/tjob.2021.82788
  • 7. Snyder J, Crooks VA, Johnston R, Dharamsi S. “Do your homework.and then hope for the best”: The challenges that medical tourism poses to Canadian family physicians’ support of patients’ informed decision-making. BMC Med Ethics. 2013;14(37):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-14-37
  • 8. Commission of the WONCA European Council. The European definition of General Practice/Family Medicine [Internet]. Spain: WHO Europe Office; 2023. Available at: https://www.woncaeurope.org/kb/european-definition-gp-fm-2023 (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 9. Presidency of Strategy and Budget. Eleventh development plan 2019-2023 [Internet]. Ankara: Publications of Presidency of Strategy and Budget. Available at: https://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Eleventh_Development_Plan_2019-2023.pdf (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 10. Saygili T, Diker O. [Health tourism education in Turkey] (in Turkish). JTM. 2022;3(1):59–69. https://doi.org/10.29329/jtm.2022.542.4
  • 11. YKS placement results [Internet]. Available at: https://www.osym.gov.tr/TR,25348/2023.html (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 12. Cappadocia University-history [Internet]. Available at: https://kapadokya.edu.tr/en/about/history (Access Date: December 17, 2023)
  • 13. Higher Education Information Management System [Internet]. Available at: https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/ (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 14. Health Tourism Business-YÖK vocational atlas [Internet]. Available at: https://yokatlas.yok.gov.tr/meslek-onlisans.php?b=38005 (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 15. Health tourism data-USHAŞ [Internet]. Available at: https://www.ushas.com.tr/en/health-tourism-data/ (Access Date: November 28, 2023)
  • 16. Wang H, Feng Y, Xu S, Xu X, Jiang K, Nie X, et al. Analysis of spatial-temporal pattern, dynamic evolution and influencing factors of health tourism development in China. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42462-x
  • 17. Bridget M, Nigel E. Reassessing employer expectations of graduates in UK travel services. Int J of Tourism Res 2008;10(5):409-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.670
  • 18. Ring A, Dickinger A, Wöber K. Designing the ideal undergraduate program in tourism: expectations from industry and educators. J Travel Res. 2009;48(1):106-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287508328789
  • 19. Blank C, Riedler C, Schobersberger W. Academic education in health tourism–knowledge about and willingness for academic training within the field of health tourism: a cross-country evaluation within the German-speaking alpine area. J Tourism Hospit 2013;2(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0269.1000109
  • 20. Goktas B. [Review of health tourism education] (in Turkish). Journal of Ankara Health Sciences. 2018;7(2):77–84.
  • 21. Ulusoy H, Tosun N, Akkum B. Health tourism education: the case of Turkey and the world. IJHMT. 2018;3(3):122-32. https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.435707
  • 22. Dastan I. [Health tourism in Turkey: swot analysis of health tourism in Turkey and İzmir, and strategy recommendations] (in Turkish). MAKU SOBED. 2014;6(10):143–63.
  • 23. Yigit AC, Acikgoz M. [Health tourism concept and health tourism in Turkey] (in Turkish). In: Akarsu T (ed). Pioneer and contemporary studies health sciences. 1st ed. İzmir: Duvar Publications; 2023:173–203.
  • 24. Icoz O. [Medical tourism and Turkey's opportunities within the scope of health tourism] (in Turkish). JoY. 2009;4(14):2257–79.
  • 25. Arsezen Otamıs P, Yuzbasioglu N. [The development of medical tourism cluster: example of Antalya] (in Turkish). YEAD. 2015;13(1):165–85
  • 26. Gorener A. [A SWOT-AHP approach for assessment of medical tourism sector in Turkey] (in Turkish). AJ. 2016;4(2):159–70. https://doi.org/10.17093/alphanumeric.277740
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Family Medicine, Primary Health Care, Health Services and Systems (Other)
Journal Section Original Research
Authors

Hüseyin Can 0000-0002-4686-7879

Sıdıka Ece Yokuş 0000-0001-8098-3040

Publication Date July 31, 2024
Submission Date February 14, 2024
Acceptance Date April 16, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Can, H., & Yokuş, S. E. (2024). Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data. Family Practice and Palliative Care, 9(2), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.22391/fppc.1436007
AMA Can H, Yokuş SE. Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data. Fam Pract Palliat Care. July 2024;9(2):47-53. doi:10.22391/fppc.1436007
Chicago Can, Hüseyin, and Sıdıka Ece Yokuş. “Assessment of Universities That Provide Education in the Field of Health Tourism in Türkiye in the Light of Current Data”. Family Practice and Palliative Care 9, no. 2 (July 2024): 47-53. https://doi.org/10.22391/fppc.1436007.
EndNote Can H, Yokuş SE (July 1, 2024) Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data. Family Practice and Palliative Care 9 2 47–53.
IEEE H. Can and S. E. Yokuş, “Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data”, Fam Pract Palliat Care, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 47–53, 2024, doi: 10.22391/fppc.1436007.
ISNAD Can, Hüseyin - Yokuş, Sıdıka Ece. “Assessment of Universities That Provide Education in the Field of Health Tourism in Türkiye in the Light of Current Data”. Family Practice and Palliative Care 9/2 (July2024), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.22391/fppc.1436007.
JAMA Can H, Yokuş SE. Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data. Fam Pract Palliat Care. 2024;9:47–53.
MLA Can, Hüseyin and Sıdıka Ece Yokuş. “Assessment of Universities That Provide Education in the Field of Health Tourism in Türkiye in the Light of Current Data”. Family Practice and Palliative Care, vol. 9, no. 2, 2024, pp. 47-53, doi:10.22391/fppc.1436007.
Vancouver Can H, Yokuş SE. Assessment of universities that provide education in the field of health tourism in Türkiye in the light of current data. Fam Pract Palliat Care. 2024;9(2):47-53.

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