A Bibliometric Analysis of Medical Tourism Experiences

Tóm tắt

Medical tourism (MT), the practice of traveling across borders to seek medical care, has evolved into a rapidly expanding field that bridges healthcare, tourism and policy studies. This bibliometric analysis delves into the intellectual evolution and thematic shifts within the domain of Medical Tourism Experiences (MTEx) over the past two decades, from 2003 to 2024. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 555 publications sourced from the Web of Science and employing VOSviewer software for co-citation and keyword co-occurrence mapping, this study uncovers five dominant research clusters: healthcare service quality; patient satisfaction; digital healthcare and telemedicine; policy, ethics and destination competitiveness. The findings reveal the increasing intricacy of medical tourism, positioning it not only as a healthcare delivery model but also as a dynamic global economic sector. The study highlights how emotional, cultural and regulatory dimensions deeply influence patient experiences, reinforcing the multifaceted nature of MTEx. This research contributes critical insights into the current landscape of medical tourism and provides a roadmap for future interdisciplinary collaborations and strategic initiatives, aiming to shape the sector's sustainable growth and global impact