DETERMINANTS OF CHOICE OF HOSPITALS ABROADS AS MEDICAL TOURISM DESTINATION BY NIGERIAN MEDICAL TOURISTS

ABSTRACT

This study on the influencing factors that lead Nigerian medical tourist to choose hospitals abroad as medical tourism destination. The specific objectives were to; identify who is a medical consumer/tourist; identify the problem why Nigerians go abroad for medical care; identify the travel motivation (push and pull) factors of Nigerians seeking healthcare abroad; identify the benefit of having our medical care in Nigeria; The study revealed that there are reasons for there are reasons Nigerian medical tourists choose going abroad as medical tourist destinations. Demographic analysis of members if the National assembly along gender lines shows more female population registering 52.4%. The study also showed that there are more unmarried people in relation to married, widowed or divorced people. Single segment was registered 52.7% of the sample studied. It was also revealed that top government officials are viewed as tourists in relation to lecturers students and farmers, the top government officials segment was registered 81.1% of the sample studied. From the study it was revealed that access to latest medical care, absence of world class hospitals and diagnostic centres and low technology in medical equipment’s here in Nigeria, as the reasons why Nigerians travel abroad to seek medical care. The study also revealed that hospitals abroad have international accreditation, provides high technology medical equipment’s, fast services and outstanding patient care, provides professional doctors as well as hospital nurses and staff as motivational factors that affect their choice of travelling abroad for medical care. The study also discovered that the medical system in Nigeria as evaluated by the respondents is not encouraging.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgement ﾿ v

Table of Content ﾿ vi

List of Tables ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿   ﾿ Background of The Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Statement Of The Problem ﾿ 2

1.3 ﾿ Objectives Of The Study ﾿ 2

1.4 ﾿ Research Questions ﾿ 3

1.5 ﾿ Significance Of The Study ﾿ 3

1.6 ﾿ Scope Of The Study ﾿ 4

1.7 ﾿ Limitations Of The Study ﾿ 4

1.8 ﾿ Definition Of Terms ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2. 1    ﾿ Conceptual Frame Work ﾿ 6

2.1.1 ﾿ The Concept of Influencing Factors For Choice Of Medical 

Tourism Destination. ﾿ 6

2. 1. 2  The Marketing Mix in Medical Tourism Industry ﾿ 8

2.1.2.1 Product ﾿ 8

2.1.2.2 Price ﾿ 9

2.1.2.3 Place ﾿ 10

2.1.2.4 Promotion ﾿ 10

2. 1. 3 ﾿ Consumers / Customer Satisfaction ﾿ 11

2.1.4 ﾿ Medical Tourism in Various Countries Worldwide ﾿ 11

2.1.4.1 United States of America ﾿ 11

2.1.4.2 Mexico ﾿ 12

2.1.4.3 India ﾿ 13

2.1.4.4 Singapore ﾿ 14

2.1.4.5 Malaysia ﾿ 14

2.1.4.6 Nigeria ﾿ 15

2.1.5 Top Reasons Why Medical Tourism is Popular ﾿ 16

2.1.5.1 Price ﾿ 16

2.1.5.2 Access to the latest medical technology ﾿ 17

2.1.5.3 No Wait-lists ﾿ 17

2.1.5.4 Travel Intermediaries ﾿ 18

2.1.5.5 Access To Information ﾿ 18

2.1.6 Choice of International Medical Facility ﾿ 18

2.1.6.1 Cost ﾿ 18

2.1.6.2 Hospital Accreditation / Infrastructure ﾿ 19

2.1.6.3 Quality of Care ﾿ 19

2.1.6.4 Physician Training ﾿ 19

2.2    ﾿ Theoretical Frame Work ﾿ 20

2.2.1 ﾿ Theory Of Motivation ﾿ 20

2.2.2 ﾿ Push and Pull Motivation Factors ﾿ 20

2.2.1.2 Push and Pull Relationship ﾿ 22

2.2.3 ﾿ Perceived Destination Image ﾿ 23

2.2.4 ﾿ Perceived Quality ﾿ 25

2.2.5 ﾿ Perceived Value ﾿ 26

2.2.6 ﾿ Overall Satisfaction ﾿ 27

2.2.7 ﾿ Behavioral Intention ﾿ 29

2.2.8 ﾿ Relationship Of Perceived Quality, Perceived Value, Overall Satisfaction and 

Behavioral Intention ﾿ 30

2.3 ﾿ Empirical Studies ﾿ 35

2.4 ﾿ Summary Of Reviewed Literature ﾿ 38

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 ﾿ Research Design ﾿ 40

3.2 ﾿ Area Of The Study ﾿ 40

3.3 ﾿ Population For The Study ﾿ 41

3.4 ﾿ Sample And Sampling Technique ﾿ 41

3.5 ﾿ Instrument For Data Collection ﾿ 42

3.5.1 ﾿ Data Source ﾿ 42

3.6 ﾿ Validation Of The Instrument. ﾿ 42

3.7 ﾿ Data Collection Techniques. ﾿ 42

3.8 ﾿ Reliability Of The Instrument ﾿ 43

3.9 ﾿ Data Analysis Techniques. ﾿ 43

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 ﾿ Socio Economic Characteristics the Respondents ﾿ 44

4.2 ﾿ Who is a Nigerian medical tourist ﾿ 47

4.3 ﾿ Why do Nigerian travel abroad to seek medical care? ﾿ 48

4.4 ﾿ What are the Travel Motivations (Push And Pull Factors) ﾿ 50

4.5 ﾿ What are the benefits if having our health care in our country ﾿ 52

4.6 ﾿ What are the benefits if having our health care in our country ﾿ 53

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 ﾿ Summary ﾿ 55

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 56

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 57

REFERENCES

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: ﾿ Distribution According To Nationality ﾿ 44

Table 2: ﾿ Distribution According Gender ﾿ 44

Table 3: ﾿ Distribut2ion According to Age ﾿ 45

Table 4: ﾿ Distribution According Marital Status ﾿ 45

Table 5: ﾿ Distribution according to Occupation ﾿ 46

Table 6: ﾿ Distribution of respondents according to religion ﾿ 47

Table 7: ﾿ Distribution of respondents according to the frequency of visit ﾿ 47

Table 8: ﾿ Nigerian medical tourist? ﾿ 47

Table 9: ﾿ Reasons  Nigerian travel abroad to seek medical care? ﾿ 48

Table 10a: ﾿ Product as a Travel Motivation ﾿ 50

Table 10b: ﾿ Place as a Travel Motivation ﾿ 51

Table 10c: ﾿ Price as a Travel Motivation ﾿ 52

Table 10d: ﾿ Promotion as a Travel Motivation ﾿ 52

Table 11 ﾿ What are the benefits if having our health care in our country ﾿ 53