Analysis of postgraduate theses in the field of health tourism in terms of objectives and methodology

This study aims to examine the objectives and methodologies of postgraduate theses conducted in the field of health tourism in Turkey. Health tourism is a rapidly growing sector worldwide, and Turkey has become an important destination in this field. The quality of healthcare services, geographical advantages, and cost-effectiveness make Turkey an attractive option for foreign patients. Academic studies on health tourism play a crucial role in advancing the literature in this area. Thus, it is essential for these theses to be prepared in accordance with scientific research principles and criteria to ensure the validity of the knowledge and findings obtained. Therefore, this research aims to examine the objectives and methodologies of postgraduate theses conducted in the field of health tourism in Turkey. In line with this purpose, the objectives, research models, samples, data collection tools, and data analysis sections of the theses related to health tourism were analyzed. The study analyzed 271 master's and doctoral theses on health tourism published between 2010 and 2024. The findings reveal that most theses are based on qualitative methods but lack clear definitions of methodologies and have shortcomings in sample selection. Notably, research methods were not detailed sufficiently, and validity-reliability analyses were found to be inadequate. Moreover, while descriptive statistics and content analysis are commonly employed, advanced techniques such as structural equation modeling and regression analysis are limited. This indicates a need for more sophisticated statistical analyses to enhance the scientific depth of health tourism research. In conclusion, it is recommended that academic studies in the field of health tourism be conducted with a more systematic approach and that methodological deficiencies be addressed. This will contribute to the development of health tourism policies and enhance Turkey's international competitiveness.