Examining the Profiles of Foreign Patients Applying to Private Hospitals in Türkiye from a Health Tourism Perspective

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Objective: This study aims to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of foreign patients who visit a private hospital in Turkey. Method: This study is a descriptive research based on quantitative research methods. Data were obtained from 8,761 foreign patients who applied to a private hospital operating in the center of Antalya between 2015-2021. The research was conducted using a census method that covered the entire population without selecting a sample, and it is a cross-sectional study. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and the results are presented as frequencies (n) and percentages (%). Findings: The top three departments most preferred by foreign patients are the emergency room, internal medicine, and pediatrics. An increase in laboratory referrals was observed in 2021. Most of the patients come from high-income countries, with Germany leading the way. The largest number of patients chose Turkey for treatment from the European continent. According to ICD-10, 50% of patients are between the ages of 25 and 45, and the majority came for general medical examinations. Conclusion: The findings reveal that Turkey is a strong attraction center for health tourism, especially for the European market, and that diversity is increasing in terms of variables such as age, gender, and type of treatment. This diversity provides an important source of data for both the strategic planning of healthcare institutions and the development of health tourism policies.