DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF MEDICAL TREATMENT AND MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS: A CASE STUDY OF MEDICAL TOURISM IN THAILAND

In this study the authors aim to discover the desired attributes of medical service providers offering different medical treatments, using medical tourists who sought treatment in Thailand. The findings of this study challenge previous studies by suggesting that quality considerations are pre-eminent regardless of the type of treatment sought. Certain types of medical procedures also influence the decision-making processes of medical tourists when they are looking for medical service providers. It is recommended that medical service providers improve their medical facilities and the qualifications of their medical staff to a high global standard in order to gain the attention of prospective medical tourists.