Consultation Expectations, Experiences, and Satisfaction in Medical Tourism: Evidence from International Patients in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n02.011Keywords:
Medical tourism, Patient mobility, Healthcare quality, Cultural competence, Patient satisfactionAbstract
This study examines medical tourism trends within India, focusing on expectations around medical consultation, actual consultation experiences, and overall satisfaction among international medical tourists. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, using a secondary data set comprising 300 international patients treated at a tertiary, multi-specialty healthcare center in the National Capital Region (NCR), New Delhi. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire measured on an 11-point Likert scale. Composite scores were calculated for consultation expectations as well as experiences. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, and quartile-based segmentation analysis, were conducted to ensure analytical transparency and reproducibility. The findings indicate that expectations from medical consultation were slightly below midpoint, while the actual consultation experiences were evaluated marginally above it. This revealed that patient experiences were slightly more positive than their initial expectations. Overall satisfaction levels were notably high. However, regression analysis revealed that perceived consultation experiences did not significantly predict overall patient satisfaction. Quartile-based segmentation further demonstrated that satisfaction remained consistently high across different levels of consultation experiences. The results suggest that consultation-level experiences alone do not account for variation in overall satisfaction outcomes in this sample. The study contributes empirical evidence to medical tourism research by demonstrating the multidimensional nature of international patient satisfaction and emphasizing the importance of comprehensive service standards in cross-border healthcare contexts.
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