• 대한한의학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.10-19
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the priorities among the environmental factors on, and to build core strategies for fostering Korean medical tourism. Methods: We used an A'WOT hybrid method which combined SWOT with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), that is, the strategic factors in each strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats group were selected by medical tourism experts' opinion, and then the importance of the factors in each SWOT group were pair-wise compared. Results: The results presented that the opportunities and the strengths groups are relatively more important than the other groups. The key competitive factors include high-quality human resources of traditional medicine, modernized system of Korean medical institutions, and local governments' willpower to promote herbal industries. Conclusions: Based on the results of analysis, it is suggested for government to build a timely strategic plan, to enhance cooperative activities with the private sector, to organize local resources, and to provide marketing support.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2013

Objectives This study is to evaluate the current situation of Russian tourists for medical tourism of Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital. Methods 133 Russian tourists visiting Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, were analysed in the statistics. Their data was sourced from the computerized medical records. And 87 of them answer a questionnaire about reasons for selection of Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital and satisfactory for medical service. Results A total of 133 Russian visited Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital for medical service, consisting of 73 females (54.8%), the fourties to fifties 58.9% by age. They avoided visiting in the winter. The average number of visiting was 7.1 times. The average treatment period was 9.9days. Majority of the elapsed time from the onset to the arrival was more than 1 year (56.6%). Low back pain (56.4%) is the most in musculoskeletal disorders and obesity (21.7%) and gynecological diseases (30.4%) were the most in a non-musculoskeletal disorders. Medication and acupuncture was the major treatment. 89.2% of the prescribed medication was the efficacy of musculoskeletal. Russian medical tourists most visited by support of travel agent (58.6%). The main reason of their visiting was non-surgical treatment for spinal disorder (31%). 96.6% of them were satisfied because rapid pain relief and kindness. Conclusions For this study, we confirmed a possibility for the Korean medical treatment of Russian tourists for medical tourism. Still, more research and goverment support for the expansion of Korean medical tourism is needed.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.85-110
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• 2011

As Gangwon-do Province needs an environmental-friendly alternative tourism according to low carbon green growth, this study analyzes specialized fields in green health industry, selects seven specialized fields in green health industry that is fit to Gangwon-do Province, and suggests a development strategy by conducting recognition surveys on preference and impotence of the specialized fields. Surveys and interviews are conducted of 106 students at Green Health Industry Education Center which is operating by Kwandong University and 84 persons who work at medical institutions and tourism related companies in Ganwondo. The surveys and interviews were completed from November 5 to November 19 in 2010, determined factors through a factor analysis when they have many questions, and analyzed by using SPSS 14.0. Out of the seven specialized fields, rest & recuperation field is highly recognized. In order to have competitive edge compared to other self-governing provinces, Ganwon-do Province should prioritize rest and recuperation field. A healthcare program in the green health industry specific to Ganwon-do Province includes hot springs and spa programs as a priority. Gangwon-do's hot springs are deemed to be competitive resources as global medical tourists prefer spa and sauna healthcare programs, while the province promotes its spring resources and builds medical tourism infrastructures. Gangwon-do Province can promote a medical tourism industry that is well suitable for the strength and characteristics of the province. It might pursue oriental medicine therapy tourism, which is related to a recuperating medical service that uses both oriental and western medicine. It can also run such programs as forest bathing (oxygen road), spring and spa, and sea water treatment, which are the specialized fields in green health industry with respect to recreation and healthcare.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.1-21
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• 2021

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to develop two medical tourism system models which explain medical tourism phenomenon with a systemic approach. Design/methodology - This research was conducted by using a qualitative data analysis which mainly refers to previous references of medical tourism in the areas of tourism and medicine. Leiper's tourism system model was utilized as a conceptual framework. In-depth interviews with experts in the field were conducted in order to pretest the models. Findings - This research suggests a medical tourism system framework and a medical service provision framework. The first model presents medical tourism components and their relationships within a framework presented in a diagram. The second model shows the relationships among medical services required by medical tourists, the service providers, and service human resources along with movements of medical tourists. Originality/value - The first model presents a spatial composition of medical tourism components and their relationships, whereas the second model shows the linkage among medical services, the service providers, and relevant service human resources along with time sequential steps of medical tourists. These two models are complementary and may be used as useful tools to observe medical tourism phenomenon with a systemic and holistic approach. These two models may enable stake holders avoid unnecessary confusions and conflicts that result in duplication of government policies and a waste of budget and human resources.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.43-58
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• 2012

Gangwon province has been chosen as a health tourism site by one of the nation level projects from 2008. This study surveyed local governments in the province in 2009, in order to develop suitable approaches to health tourism for the province. From the result, all respondents supported the health tourism in their city. Furthermore, an appropriate type of health tourism for the province identified as health promotion whereby the natural environment rather than advanced medical care. To respond to this, cooperation between local governments and hospitals is important, thus Gangwon province should seek the strategies for this.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.19-35
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• 2021

Purpose : Recently, there has been a growing social interest in aging well. Consequently, wellness tourism has begun to attract attention. However, no studies on whether wellness tourism has any objective health benefits have been carried out yet. In this study, we assess the health benefits as well as the degree of improvement in health of a wellness tourism program. Methods : The study involved 30 adults over the age of 19 who live in the Gyeongsangnam-do region. Participants were evaluated on health indicator before and after participating in wellness tourism program. Participants took heart rate variability (HRV) test, and LFT, RFT, CBC, FBS HbA1C, and CRP test were conducted before and after the tour. Additionally, a survey was conducted before and after the program, and participant satisfaction was evaluated. Statistical differences in the tests conducted before and after the program were analyzed using a design t-test, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and McNemar's test. Results : The study showed that participants were very satisfied with and had significant health improvements after the wellness tourism program. The program was also found to be beneficial in improving participants' emotions as follows: BDI (p<.001), fatigue recovery (p=.006), stress relief (p=.003), improved quality of life (p<.05), and improved sleep quality (p<.001). Conclusion : Wellness tourism programs are specifically beneficial for improving participants' emotions (depression, anxiety), fatigue, stress levels, quality of life, and sleep. Therefore, they are beneficial to the overall health. Further research in the future by way of a follow-up study on the long-term effects on health after short-term interventions will provide more validation data.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.165-190
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was supposed to investigate factors which influence to preference of medical tourism products of Japanese tourists in Seoul, Korea. Methods : Data were collected from 228 Japanese tourists who visited' Seoul Center for Culture & Tourism' in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Korea. We measured factors which influence to preference for medical tourism. The data were analyzed by T-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Results : The major findings were as follows ; Japanese tourists preferred medical products in the order of skin care, oriental medicine treatment, health screening, and scaling & teeth whitening. They considered technical level of medical staff most importantly, followed by safety of medical products, communication during diagnosis and treatment, follow-up service, modernization of medical facilities and equipment, and the reasonable medical expenses. Japanese tourists' preferred medical institutions in the order of a university hospital, a specialty clinic, a special hospital, They said they intend to pay 50,000 to 150,000 yen for medical tourism. The preference to medical tourism products are that single women group in their twenties and thirties for skin care, married people group aged over thirties preferred oriental medicine treatment, and married men aged over forties and high income earners favored health screening. Conclusions : It should be considered carefully that the preference exists on some factors especially for Japanese tourist. Further research about preference on medical tourism products for tourists from the other countries is required appropriately to fulfill the needs.

• 의료법학
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.275-307
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• 2010

In the presidential new-year address in January 2, 2009, the President declared that 17 kinds of new driving force of growth that could create high-added value be selected to step up job creation and an increase in national wealth. The Ministry of Strategy & Finance announced plans for the 17 kinds of new driving force of growth after the presidential address. Specifically, that ministry announced an ambitious plan to select health care service named 'Global Health Care' as one of the five service industries that could create high-added value in a move to provide jobs to approximately 7,000 people and produce pervasive economic effects coming up to a trillion and 10 billion won. To attain the goal, several action plans were mapped out to globalize domestic medical institutions, to rearrange the relevant law and system for the purposes of raising awareness of domestic medical institutions among foreign patients and improving their accessibility and post-satisfaction level, and to lure lots of foreign patients through financial assistance. At the same time, the government announced plans to lure severe patients such as those in want of surgery or organ transplant, cancer patients or patients with heart diseases to create high-added value on a long-term basis. Thus, the government announced that it planned to formulate such strategies and to enter an agreement with foreign governments to attract plenty of foreign patients. In fact, however, there are little full-scale evaluation of medical tourism though it's been a year since it was introduced, and there are few actual efforts to implement what the government announced, either. According to the results of the evaluation of medical tourism, domestic hospitals are said to undergo little significant changes after the introduction of medical tourism, which shows that they take a dim view of medical tourism instead of having expectations for that. The medical tourism industries in major Asian countries have been dynamized, and there are several factors of their success. First of all, they are successful in creating new market opportunities by incorporating related industries such as medicine, tourism and IT and in developing medical tourism products and differentiated marketing by taking advantage of their competitive edge. They have offered full-fledged assistance to this sector, and another reason is the improved international credibility of their medical service. If our country fails to pinpoint our problems in consideration of the cases of the Asian countries or to provide appropriate financial aid, our country is bound to lag behind them. Given this reality, how to assess medical tourism and what challenges this sector is confronted with are discussed.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.914-918
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• 2011

This survey was designed to analyze questionnaire of Japanese who experienced Oriental Medical Tourism and to facilitate it afterwards. The survey was organized for 38 Japanese participants in oriental medicine hospital from Feb. 10 to Mar. 7 in 2011. According to the research, most of them didn't know about oriental medicine but they were interested. They preferred preventive medication through health improvement to medical treatment. When making decisions on which tourism products to use, the quality of medical service came first consideration for them. The most appropriate length of visit was 4~7days and cost per day was 7100~14000 yen. We need to gather more information on their various fields of interest in order to provide customized medical service and more surveys should be conducted henceforth.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.299-308
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• 2014

오늘날 치과의료관광은 자국에서의 비용-효과적인 측면과 치과진료의 질과 기술적인 측면 그리고 관광의 매력 때문에 보편적인 현상이 되어가고 있다. 우리나라는 인기 있는 의료관광지 중의 하나로 각광을 받고 있으며 인도네시아는 잠재적인 치과의료관광 시장으로서의 가치가 충분하다. 이에 본 연구에서는 한국과 인도네시아의 치과의료관광에 대한 지식, 태도, 그리고 경험을 비교하여 치과의료관광 발전의 기초자료를 제공하기 위해 시도되었다. 연구도구는 각국의 언어로 된 구조화된 설문지를 사용하였으며, 인도네시아는 2010년 4월부터 7월까지 33개 도시에서 총 923부를 조사하였고, 한국은 2010년 5월부터 8월까지 총 312부를 조사하였다. 연구 결과, 많은 응답자들이 치아의료관광에 대해 들어 본 경험이 없었고, 들어 본 사람들은 주로 인터넷을 통해 알고 있었다. 인도네시아의 경우 치과보험은 치과의료관광에 대한 지식에 유의한 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났고, 양국 모두 치과의료관광에 대한 태도는 자국의 치료가 더 안전하다고 느끼기 때문에 부정적인 측면이 강했다. 한국인 응답자 중에는 치과의료관광 경험자가 없는 반면, 인도네시아는 2.4%가 경험하였다. 본 연구 결과를 바탕으로 대상자들의 치과의료관광에 대한 지식과 태도, 경험을 높이기 위해서는 긍정적이고 포괄적인 정보의 제공이 효율적으로 생각되었다.