A study on health tourism awareness of healthcare workers

The primary objective of this study is to determine the health tourism awareness levels of healthcare workers employed in public and private hospitals operating in Ankara, and to examine whether these levels vary significantly according to various demographic and occupational variables. Health tourism, which has become increasingly important worldwide, is not only an economic revenue source but also a strategic service sector for many countries. In this context, the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals directly influence the quality of services provided. The research was conducted using a quantitative method, and data were collected via a two-part questionnaire. The first section gathered demographic and occupational information about the participants, while the second part included the 22-item Health Tourism Awareness Scale (HTAS) developed by Dağlı (2021). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software, employing non-parametric statistical methods such as the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. The findings revealed that healthcare workers' awareness levels regarding health tourism are generally at a moderate level. Statistically significant differences were found in awareness levels according to variables such as age, gender, education level, profession, work experience, department, and prior training in health tourism. Participants working in outpatient clinics and administrative units, those with postgraduate education, those who had received formal or informal health tourism training, and those working in health tourism units exhibited significantly higher awareness levels. In light of the results, it is recommended that health institutions implement more comprehensive health tourism training programs, enhance in-service training efforts, and develop institutional policies to increase awareness among healthcare professionals.