Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
1
Graduated of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
2
Associate Professor of Healthcare Services Management, Department of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health and Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
4
Associate Professor, Department of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Background: Many tourists are now interested in receiving dental services while traveling due to the potential for cost savings and enhanced service quality. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the management of dental tourism in the center of Alborz province.
Methods: The present study was descriptive-analytical (cross-sectional). The statistical population of the research consisted of all dentists working in Karaj city (N = 751). The sample size was determined to be 256 participants, based on Morgan's table, and 264 questionnaires were collected, considering a ten percent chance of dropping out. The validity and reliability of the researcher-made questionnaire were confirmed. The stratified random sampling was used.
Findings: Eight factors were found to be effective in dental tourism management in the center of Alborz province, which explained 66.202% of the variance. The most effective factor in attracting tourists was "the level of preparation of the province and dentists in attracting dental tourists," with the explanatory power of 17.837% of the total variance. The factor "traffic congestion and air pollution" had the least impact, with an explanatory power of 3.852 percent.
Conclusion: The results of this research assist health tourism policymakers in effectively advancing Iran's economic development by managing the eight known influential factors in attracting dental tourism and gaining a competitive advantage in health tourism.
Highlights
Leila Keikavoosi-Arani: PubMed, Google Scholar
Reza Jalilian: PubMed
Behrooz Pouragha: PubMed, Google Scholar
Keywords
Main Subjects