Abstract:

The problem of low-level knowledge about medical tourism often makes medical practitioners and stakeholders ignorant of the eventual consequences of outbound medical tourism and the possible advantages of inbound medical tourism. This study assesses the awareness and knowledge of medical tourism among medical practitioners in tertiary hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 160 medical doctors who have made referrals for medical tourism in other countries. A multi-stage sampling technique was used and data was collected using an Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire.  The Mean years of experience among the doctors was = 17.6±9.5 years; 48 (30.00%) had a work experience of 11 – 20 years, 42 (26.25%) 21 – 30 years, while 20 (12.50%) had worked for more than 30 years. About 148 (92.50%) of the doctors were aware of medical tourism. Of the proportion that were aware (n = 160), 34(21.25%) reported their colleagues as their source of information, and 65 (40.63%) indicated their workplace as their source. Outbound and inbound medical tourism were the most popular categories of medical tourism among the doctors, 56 (35.00%) and 51 (31.88%), respectively. In summary, 83 (51.9%) of the doctors had fair knowledge of medical tourism, while 43 (26.9%) had poor knowledge, and 34 (21.3%) had good knowledge. High awareness of medical tourism among Nigerian doctors is crucial for safeguarding public health, improving local healthcare services, and reducing medical tourism-related risks. It also positions Nigeria to potentially benefit from inbound medical tourism in the future.

References:

[1]. Eman, S. T., 2013, Emerging of Medical Tourism in Egyptian Hospitals : International Patient Satisfaction towards Nurses Services Quality. Glo. Adv. Res. J. Manag. Bus. Stud. 2(2):93–104.

[2]. Loutan, LucieZia Sheikholeslami, N. N., Zia Sheikholeslami, M M B., 2012, The Attitude and Knowledge of Rafsanjan Medical University Staff about Medical Tourism. ghf.globalhealthforum.ne. 2012:2012.

[3]. Rajeev, A., 2009, Study of the Knowledge , Attitude and Experience of Medical Tourism Among Target Groups with Special Emphasis on South India. Online J Health Allied Scs. 2009;8(2):1–5. Available at: http://www.ojhas.org/issue30/2009-2-6.htm

[4]. Lunt, N., Machin, L., Green S M. R., 2011, Are there implications for quality of care for patients who participate in international medical tourism ? Pharmacoeconomics Outcomes Res. 2011;11(2):133–136.

[5]. Samir, N., Karim, S., 2011, An Insight: Medical Tourism, Local and International Perspective. Oman Medical Journal. 2011;26(4):215–218.

[6]. Álvarez, M. M., Chanda, R., Smith, R. D., 2011, The potential for bi-lateral agreements in medical tourism : A qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives from the UK and India. Globalization and Health. 2011;7(1):11. Available at: http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/7/1/11

[7]. Ozbek, O., Hassan, A., 2022, Medical Tourism and the Application of Technology. In: Hassan, A. (eds) Handbook of Technology Application in Tourism in Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2210-6_28

[8]. Medical Tourism Guide. 2013, Medical Tourism Benefits and Advantages. Medical tourism guide. 2013. Available at: www.Health-Tourism.com.

[9]. Bagheri, A., 2010, Global health regulations should distinguish between medical tourism and transplant tourism. Global Social Policy. 2010;10(3):295.

[10]. Snyder Jeremy, Valore, A., Rory Johnston, P. K., 2011, What do we know about Canadian involvement in medical tourism? A scoping review. Open Medicine. 2011;5(3):139–148.

[11]. Martha Lagace. 2007, The Rise of Medical Tourism. Havard Business School. 2007:1–2.

[12]. Leigh Turner., 2011, Canadian medical tourism companies that have exited the marketplace : Content analysis of websites used to market transnational medical travel. Globalization and Health. 2011;7(1):40. Available at: http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/7/1/40

[13]. Johnston, R., Crooks, V. A., Adams, K., Snyder, J., Kingsbury, P., 2011, An industry perspective on Canadian patients ’ involvement in Medical Tourism : implications for public health. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):416. Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/416.

[14]. Kastenholz, 2010, Hiking as a relevant wellness activity - results of an exploratory study of hiking tourists in Portugal. Journal of Vacation Marketing. 2010;16:331.

[15]. Ibrahim O. Orekoya, Omobola O. Oduyoye, 2018, Implications of Outbound Medical Tourism on Public Health Care Development in Nigeria. European Scientific Journal October 2018 edition Vol.14, No.30. 353- 370 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431. Doi: 10.19044/esj.2018.v14n30p353 URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n30p353.

[16]. Novatia Consulting, 2024, Medical Tourism Feasibility Study in Nigeria, https://novatiaconsulting.com/medical-tourism-feasibility-study-in-nigeria/. Accessed on 03:11:2024.

[17]. Busayo Akinmoju, 2020. The vicious cycle of medical tourism and physician migration, 2020. https://www.stears.co/article/the-vicious-cycle-of-medical-tourism-and-physician-migration/. 

[18]. Helble, M., 2011, The movement of patients across borders: challenges and opportunities for public health. Bulletin of World Health Organization. 2011; 89:68–72.

[19]. Çapar, H., Aslan, O., 2020, Factors affecting destination choice in medical tourism. Int J Travel Med Glob Health. 2020;8(2):80-88. Doi:10.34172/ ijtmgh.2020.13.

[20]. World Health Organization, 2009, World Health Organization (2009) Summary Report. Workshop on the Movement of Patients Across International Borders – Emerging Challenges and Opportunities for Health Care Systems, Kobe, Japan, 24–25 February. Geneva, Swizerland; 2012:23– 27.

[21]. Jeremy Snyder, V. A. C., 2012, Guidelines for Reducing the Negative Public Health Impacts of Medical Tourism. BioéthiqueOnline. 2012;12:1–4.

[22]. Penney, K, Snyder, J., Crooks, V. A., Johnston, R., 2011, Risk communication and informed consent in the medical tourism industry : A thematic content analysis of Canadian broker websites. BMC Medical Ethics. 2011;12(1):17. Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6939/12/17

[23]. American Society of Nephrology. 2008, The Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3:1227–1231.

[24]. Delmonico F. L., 2008, The development of the Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2008;23:3381–3382.

[25]. Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.2012, Medical tourism : Update and implications. 2012:22– 25.

[26]. Dawan, P. D., 2000, Brief history of the creation of Federal capital territory (FCT). PD Dawan (Ed). 2000.

[27]. Olokesusi, F., Aiyegbajeje, F. O., Arije, I. M., 2019, Smart Metropolitan Regional Development of Abuja and its region. Adv 21st Century Hum Settlement’s. 2019;(1):797–825

[28]. Adakayi, P.E., 2000, Climate. In Dawan, P. D. (ed.). Geography of Abuja Federal Capital Territory. Famous/Asanlu Publishers, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, pp. 9-23

[29]. Cochrane, G., 1963, Sampling techniques,. 2nd ed. New York.: John Willey and Sons Inc; 1963.

[30]. Alsharif, M. J., Labonté, R., Lu, Z., 2010, Patients beyond borders: A study of medical tourists in four countries. Global Social Policy. 2010;10(315):13–23.

[31]. Araoye, M. O., 2004, Research methodology with statistics for health and social sciences. Ilorin.: Nathadex publishers. 2004:116–125.

[32]. Taofeek Ibrahim. 2009, Research methodology and dissertation writing for health and allied health professionals. Ist. Abuja.: Cress Global Link Limited; 2009:70 – 102.

[33]. Monika Prakash. 2011, A study of problems and challenges faced by medical tourists visiting India. Delhi; 2011:19 – 45.

[34]. Crooks, V. A., Cameron, K., Chouinard, V., et al., 2012, Use of medical tourism for hip and knee surgery in osteoarthritis : a qualitative examination of distinctive attitudinal characteristics among Canadian patients. BMC Health Services Research. 2012;12(1):1. Available at: BMC Health Services Research.

[35]. Global Health Care. 2012, Online survey of global Health Care: and the Impact on Health Care in the United States). 2012:1 – 4.

[36]. Tunji Oyeyemi, 2022, Nigeria Set to Become Destination For Medical Tourism, Reverse Brain Drain.2022. Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. 2022. https://fmino.gov.ng/nigeria-set-to-become-destination-for-medical-tourism-reverse-brain-drain-minister/. Accessed on 04/01/2025 

[37]. Adeoye, A. O., 2023, Assessing the associated medical, legal, and social issues in medical tourism and its implications for Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J. 2023;45:145. 

[38]. Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), 2025. Unlocking Opportunities in Nigerian Medical Tourism. https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/unlocking-opportunities-in-nigerian-medical-tourism

[39]. Ogunjimi, L. O., Adebayo, A. M., Adebisi, Y. A., 2023, Practice and determinants of medical tourism in Nigeria. Int J Innov Sci Res Technol. 2023;8(12):1-7.

[40]. Alex Piper, Medical Tourism: Easy Steps to Penetrate Nigeria Patient Markets, Medical Tourism Magazine (MTM), 2024. OneWorld Global Healthcare Solutions. https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/medical-tourism-easy-steps-to-penetrate-nigeria-patient-markets. Accessed on 12:10: 2024.

[41]. da Lilly-Tariah, O. B., Sule, S. S., 2020, Universal healthcare coverage and medical tourism: Challenges and best practice options to access quality healthcare and reduce outward medical tourism in Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2020;29(3):475-482.