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Predictors of International Muslim Medical Tourists’ Expectations on Halal-Friendly Healthcare Services: A Hospital-Based Study Publisher Pubmed



Naserirad M1, 2 ; Tavakol M1 ; Abbasi M3 ; Jannat B2 ; Sadeghi N4 ; Bahemmat Z5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Halal Research Center, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Drug and Food Control, Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Pharmacy, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Source: Health Services Management Research Published:2023


Abstract

Background: Halal-friendly healthcare services have emerged as an important sector of the overall healthcare service delivery system. This study aimed to examine levels and determinants of expectations on halal-friendly healthcare services from the Muslim medical tourists’ perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four cities, seventeen hospitals, across Iran, with a sample of 365 international Muslim medical tourists. Results: Mean expectation score of the respondents was 3.95 ± 1.43. Being in the 25–34 age group (aOR = 2.65; CI 95%: 2.14–3.16), being married (aOR = 2.09; CI 95%: 1.46–2.72), having completed secondary education (aOR = 2.14; CI 95%: 1.26–3.02), belonging to a high-income socioeconomic background (aOR = 1.69; CI 95%: 1.06–2.33), coming from Iraq (aOR = 3.08; CI 95%: 2.12–4.04), being Shia (aOR = 2.83; CI 95%: 2.00–3.67), receiving information by recommendation as a source for travel decision (aOR = 3.02; CI 95%: 1.82–4.22), traveling with family or relatives (aOR=2.16; CI 95%: 1.42–2.90), receiving medical service of cosmetic surgery (aOR = 1.57; CI 95%: 1.22–1.92) and cardiovascular therapy (aOR = 2.33; CI 95%: 1.23–3.43), and traveling one or two times in the past (aOR = 2.33; CI 95%: 1.00–3.66) significantly increased the expectations on halal-friendly healthcare services. Conclusion: This study will represent an important contribution to the literature concerned with the levels and drivers of expectations on halal-friendly healthcare services. © The Author(s) 2022.