ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The connection between healthcare and tourism industries in many countries has created one of the largest service industries, i.e. "medical tourism industry" which brings significant benefits to the countries. The present study aimed to examine internal and external factors affecting Shiraz medical tourism industry along with the potential capabilities of the industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This applied research is a mixed method study conducted in 2017 employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study population consists of all organizations involved in the medical tourism industry. Deductive qualitative content analysis was employed so as to determine the internal and external factors influencing Shiraz medical tourism industry. Furthermore, the SWOT technique was used to analyze the data obtained from individual interviews and meetings with expert panels. RESULT: Internal and external factors were classified into four main themes, namely strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and ten sub-themes, of which five cases (FORMM) were related to internal factors (i.e. finance, production and products (operations), research and development, marketing and management) and five cases (STEPC) were associated with external factors: Socio-cultural, technological, economic, political and competitive. The matrix of the internal and external factors indicated an offensive zone for this industry. CONCLUSION: This industry can make use of the strengths and opportunities to confront threats and negative points through identifying internal and external factors and enjoy benefits such as job creation and revenue gains.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the status of knowledge translation (KT) in Iranian medical science universities in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the most important organizations responsible for producing knowledge in the country. METHODS: The KT activities were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively in nine universities using the Self-Assessment Tool for Research Institutes. RESULTS: The strengths and weaknesses of universities were determined using seven main themes: priority setting; research quality and timeliness; researchers' KT capacities; interaction with research users; the facilities and prerequisites of KT; the processes and regulations supporting KT; and promoting and evaluating the use of evidence.The quantitative and qualitative results showed that the Iranian universities did not have an appropriate context for KT. There were significant shortcomings in supportive regulations, facilities for KT activities, and the level of interaction between the researchers and research users. CONCLUSIONS: The shortcomings in KT were mostly in the area of stewardship and policymaking (macro level), followed by planning and implementation at the universities. In order to strengthen KT in Iran, it should occupy a prominent and focused role in the strategies of the country's health research system.
