ABSTRACT
Background: Payingspecial attention to the development indicators of medical tourism (MT) can lead to the further development of this industry and tourists' satisfaction. Objective: This study aimed to investigate MT development indicators in Yazd Reproductive Sciences Research Institute, Yazd, Iran in 2021. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 430 medical tourists referred to the Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Yazd, Iran in 2021 were studied. A researcher-made questionnaire with 46 questions and 10 dimensions was used in both internal and external environments to collect data. The Spearman correlation coefficient was also used to assess the correlation between the quantitative factors. Results: The reliability and validity of the scale were confirmed. The mean ± SD of the advertising and marketing index scored was lower than the other internal environmental indices (15.05 ± 2.16). Also, the economic factors and tourism infrastructure were lower than the other external environmental factors (9.8 ± 1.99, 8.53 ± 2.11, respectively). Conclusion: Given the importance of MT, top managers and relevant authorities should pay close attention to the criteria of advertising, marketing, and tourism infrastructure. MT demand can be improved by increasing the importance of advertising, implementing realistic advertising strategies, and developing adequate urban infrastructure and services.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The empowerment of psychological well-being is an important and fundamental issue among infertile females. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the effect of teaching self-compassion on the psychological well-being of initial infertile women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test, 32 infertile women who were referred to the Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute during 2016-2017 were enrolled. The participants were randomly divided in two groups as control and experiment (n = 16/each). The participants only in the experimental group received 8 sessions of 90 min training (Self-Compassion Training). Ryff's psychological well-being questionnaire was applied (reliability coefficient = 0.82) and covariance analysis statistical test was used to test the research hypothesis. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the estimated mean scores for improving the psychological well-being of the participants in the experiment and control groups (p = 0.007), and the difference indicates that 72.7% of the covariance of the post-test scores is due to self-compassion intervention. Therefore, the intervention of self-compassion training affects the improvement of psychological well-being among infertile women. Also, the pre-test variable is significant with the effect of 94.2% (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The findings showed that teaching self-compassion to initial infertile women has an effect on their psychological well-being.
