Table 5 Motivational factors among residents of Dubai, United Arab Emirates who sought medical treatment overseas during 2009–2012
Variable | Total Sample N (%) | Federal Republic of Germany N (%) | Other Destinations N (%) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Main Reason for Travel | Â | Â | Â | 0.85 |
 Treatment purpose only | 332 (99) | 150 (99) | 182 (99) |  |
 Other purposes | 4 (1) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) |  |
Have Been There Before | Â | Â | Â | 0.19 |
 Not Important at all | 166 (49) | 74 (49) | 92 (50) |  |
 Not Important | 56 (17) | 33 (22) | 23 (13) |  |
 Neutral | 13 (4) | 6 (4) | 7 (4) |  |
 Important | 58 (17) | 23 (15) | 35 (19) |  |
 Very Important | 43 (13) | 16 (11) | 27 (15) |  |
 mean ± SDa | 2.27 ± 1.52 | 2.17 ± 1.43 | 2.35 ± 1.58 |  |
Vacation Aspects | Â | Â | Â | 0.11 |
 Not Important at all | 218 (65) | 100 (66) | 118 (64) |  |
 Not Important | 66 (20) | 36 (24) | 30 (16) |  |
 Neutral | 25 (7) | 9 (6) | 16 (9) |  |
 Important | 18 (5) | 4 (3) | 14 (8) |  |
 Very Important | 9 (3) | 3 (2) | 6 (3) |  |
 mean ± SDa | 1.61 ± 1.01 | 1.51 ± 0.87 | 1.70 ± 1.11 |  |
Friendly Atmosphere | Â | Â | Â | 0.24 |
 Not Important at all | 145 (43) | 71 (47) | 74 (40) |  |
 Not Important | 47 (14) | 25 (16) | 22 (12) |  |
 Neutral | 22 (7) | 10 (7) | 12 (7) |  |
 Important | 68 (20) | 28 (18) | 40 (22) |  |
 Very Important | 54 (16) | 18 (12) | 36 (20) |  |
 mean ± SDa | 2.52 ± 1.58 | 2.32 ± 1.50 | 2.68 ± 1.63 |  |
Advised by Someone | Â | Â | Â | 0.53 |
 Not Important at all | 62 (18) | 31 (20) | 31 (17) |  |
 Not Important | 30 (9) | 16 (11) | 14 (8) |  |
 Neutral | 22 (7) | 12 (8) | 10 (5) |  |
 Important | 81 (24) | 33 (22) | 48 (26) |  |
 Very Important | 141 (42) | 60 (39) | 81 (44) |  |
 mean ± SDa | 3.62 ± 1.54 | 3.49 ± 1.58 | 3.73 ± 1.50 |  |
Cost of Treatment | Â | Â | Â | 0.002 |
 Not Important at all | 155 (46) | 81 (53) | 74 (40) |  |
 Not Important | 54 (16) | 29 (19) | 25 (14) |  |
 Neutral | 41 (12) | 17 (11) | 24 (13) |  |
 Important | 32 (10) | 13 (9) | 19 (10) |  |
 Very Important | 54 (16) | 12 (8) | 42 (23) |  |
 mean ± SDa | 2.33 ± 1.51 | 1.99 ± 1.31 | 2.612 ± 1.62 |  |
Sources of Information Used to Travel Abroad | ||||
 Word of mouth family and friends | 176 (52) | 74 (49) | 102 (55) | 0.22 |
 Internet forums | 61 (18) | 30 (20) | 31 (17) | 0.49 |
 Magazine/newspaper | 1 (< 1) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 0.27 |
 Radio/TV | 1 (< 1) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 0.36 |
 Brochures and leaflets | 1 (< 1) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 0.27 |
 Literature | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 0.89 |
 Physician’s recommendations | 181 (54) | 88 (58) | 93 (51) | 0.18 |
 Providers webpage | 4 (1) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 0.85 |
 Medical Travel agency/Broker | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 0.89 |
 Government (overseas treatment office) | 80 (24) | 41 (27) | 39 (21) | 0.22 |
Information Would Use to Choose Healthcare Provider | Â | Â | Â | 0.41 |
 Different Treatment Options | 27 (8) | 14 (9) | 13 (7) |  |
 Qualifications and certificates of the doctor | 39 (12) | 19 (13) | 20 (11) |  |
 Experience of the doctor | 95 (28) | 36 (24) | 59 (32) |  |
 Reputation of the medical center/hospital | 80 (24) | 36 (24) | 44 (24) |  |
 Past success stories | 41 (12) | 19 (13) | 22 (12) |  |
 Cost of treatment | 6 (2) | 2 (1) | 4 (2) |  |
 Cost of accommodation, air fare, transport, food, etc. | 1 (< 1) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |  |
 Length of stay | 1 (< 1) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) |  |
 Adverse outcomes and complications of the desired treatment | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) |  |
 Refund policy | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 2 (1) |  |
 The probability of having the treating doctor abroad as visiting doctors in the UAE for consultations | 10 (3) | 7 (5) | 3 (2) |  |
 Available advanced medical & Therapeutic technology | 3 (1) | 1 (1) | 2 (1) |  |
 Opinions of friends and family regarding the best healthcare providers in the city/country | 29 (9) | 15 (10) | 14 (8) |  |
Inquire About Physician | Â | Â | Â | 0.76 |
 Didn’t Inquire | 80 (24) | 35 (23) | 45 (24) |  |
 Inquire | 256 (76) | 117 (77) | 139 (76) |  |
Types of Inquiries About the Physician Abroad | ||||
 Physician Training & Qualifications | 191 (57) | 86 (57) | 105 (57) | 0.93 |
 Recovery Time as inpatient | 128 (38) | 55 (36) | 73 (40) | 0.51 |
 How soon will travel back home | 87 (26) | 37 (24) | 50 (27) | 0.56 |
 Pictures of Previous Patients | 59 (18) | 29 (19) | 30 (16) | 0.51 |
 Complications & Adverse outcomes | 84 (25) | 38 (25) | 46 (25) | 1.00 |
 Cost of treatment and follow up | 35 (10) | 9 (6) | 26 (14) | 0.01 |
Main reason to travel overseas for Healthcare | ||||
 Cannot afford treatment in the UAE | 12 (4) | 6 (4) | 6 (3) | 0.74 |
 Not eligible for the service provided in the UAE | 11 (3) | 5 (3) | 6 (3) | 0.99 |
 Long waiting time for an appointment | 29 (9) | 12 (8) | 17 (9) | 0.66 |
 Undesirable outcome from previous personal experience | 21 (6) | 8 (5) | 13 (7) | 0.50 |
 Undesirable outcome from other previous experience | 24 (7) | 8 (5) | 16 (9) | 0.22 |
 Privacy and confidently reasons | 27 (8) | 10 (7) | 17 (9) | 0.37 |
 Healthcare provider attitude | 20 (6) | 5 (3) | 15 (8) | 0.06 |
 Post treatment rehabilitation is not available | 6 (2) | 3 (2) | 3 (2) | 0.81 |
 Expecting adverse treatment outcome in the UAE | 20 (6) | 7 (5) | 13 (7) | 0.34 |