Factors Influencing Overall Satisfaction of Middle Eastern Arab Patients in South Korea

Al-Farajat, Loai,Jung, Seong-Hoon,Gu, Gil-hwan,Seo, Young-Joon The International Promotion Agency of Culture Tech 2019 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.7 No.1

The number of patients from Middle Eastern Arabic countries is steadily increasing in respect to the South Korean government's medical tourism strategies. Word of mouth is one of the main determinants concerning the Middle Eastern Arab patients' medical tourism destination. Further, patients' satisfaction affects repurchase and revisit intention. This study aimed to measure the level of Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction, and to measure the effect of different medical factors on satisfaction in such patients who are seeking medical attention in South Korea. A 110 Middle Eastern Arab patients who visited South Korea for medical purposes participated in our survey between November, 2016 and April, 2017. All factors had a high mean (${\geq}4.24$; ${\geq}84.8/100$) except for one factor (hospital halal meals (3.82; 76.4)). To identify factors influencing participants' overall satisfaction we used multiple regression analysis. Physicians, interpreters, and halal meals were the main factors influencing overall Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction. Physicians and interpreters in Korea are recommended to be oriented to basic Islamic beliefs and Middle Eastern Arab patients' behavior. Daily communication, such as speaking directly to the patient, limiting important issues to two or three at a time, and translating sentence by sentence, could help to improve Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction. Enlisting Middle Eastern nutrition specialists in medical institutions in South Korea may substantially improve non-medical services satisfaction such as halal food and dietary restrictions.

Medical Interpreters in Korea: A Qualitative Study of Medical Tourists' Satisfaction and the Role of Interpreters

Al-Farajat, Lo'ai Adnan,Jung, Seong-Hoon,Seo, Young-Joon The International Promotion Agency of Culture Tech 2018 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.6 No.4

Background: As a result of the South Korean government's medical tourism strategies, the number of UAE inbound medical tourists have the highest annual increase rate among the Middle Eastern countries. The need for medical interpreters in such cases is inevitable, especially considering the languages spoken in both countries differs. The work of a medical interpreter affects patient satisfaction, quality of care, and the UAE patients' revisit intention. However, there is a lack of literature that focuses on the role of medical interpreters for the Arabic-speaking medical tourists in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to assess the satisfaction and the experience of UAE medical tourists in South Korea who have used medical interpretation services. Method: A descriptive exploratory design, including semi-structured interviews, was used in this study to examine factors influencing the satisfaction of UAE patients seeking medical attention in South Korea, who considered travelling exclusively for medical purposes. Eleven UAE medical tourists were selected for the interview using convenience sampling. Results: Two types of interpreters were revealed by the analysis: interpreters with Arabic as their mother tongue and interpreters with Korean as their mother tongue. Patients emphasized the origin of the interpreters and differentiated between the two types of interpreters' professionalism, abilities, and personal skills. However, due to the huge gap between the two cultures, languages, and religions, the UAE patients mainly preferred the Arabic medical interpreters. Further, each type had certain traits that impacted the medical care process and patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: This study shows that the South Korean government needs to focus on the training and assessment system for Arabic language interpreters. Additionally, cultural differences training for the interpreters may help to increase UEA patients' satisfaction.

Factors Influencing Overall Satisfaction of Middle Eastern Arab Patients in South Korea

Loai Al-Farajat,정승훈,구길환,서영준 국제문화기술진흥원 2019 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.7 No.1

The number of patients from Middle Eastern Arabic countries is steadily increasing in respect to the SouthKorean government’s medical tourism strategies. Word of mouth is one of the main determinants concerning theMiddle Eastern Arab patients’ medical tourism destination. Further, patients’ satisfaction affects repurchase andrevisit intention. This study aimed to measure the level of Middle Eastern Arab patients’ satisfaction, and tomeasure the effect of different medical factors on satisfaction in such patients who are seeking medical attentionin South Korea. A 110 Middle Eastern Arab patients who visited South Korea for medical purposes participatedin our survey between November, 2016 and April, 2017. All factors had a high mean (≥4.24; ≥84.8/100) exceptfor one factor (hospital halal meals (3.82; 76.4)). To identify factors influencing participants’ overall satisfactionwe used multiple regression analysis. Physicians, interpreters, and halal meals were the main factors influencingoverall Middle Eastern Arab patients’ satisfaction. Physicians and interpreters in Korea are recommended to beoriented to basic Islamic beliefs and Middle Eastern Arab patients’ behavior. Daily communication, such asspeaking directly to the patient, limiting important issues to two or three at a time, and translating sentence bysentence, could help to improve Middle Eastern Arab patients’ satisfaction. Enlisting Middle Eastern nutritionspecialists in medical institutions in South Korea may substantially improve non-medical services satisfactionsuch as halal food and dietary restrictions.

Medical Interpreters in Korea: A Qualitative Study of Medical Tourists’ Satisfaction and the Role of Interpreters

Lo’ai Adnan Al-Farajat,정승훈,서영준 국제문화기술진흥원 2018 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.6 No.4

Background: As a result of the South Korean government’s medical tourism strategies, the number of UAE inbound medical tourists have the highest annual increase rate among the Middle Eastern countries. The need for medical interpreters in such cases is inevitable, especially considering the languages spoken in both countries differs. The work of a medical interpreter affects patient satisfaction, quality of care, and the UAE patients’ revisit intention. However, there is a lack of literature that focuses on the role of medical interpreters for the Arabic-speaking medical tourists in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to assess the satisfaction and the experience of UAE medical tourists in South Korea who have used medical interpretation services. Method: A descriptive exploratory design, including semi-structured interviews, was used in this study to examine factors influencing the satisfaction of UAE patients seeking medical attention in South Korea, who considered travelling exclusively for medical purposes. Eleven UAE medical tourists were selected for the interview using convenience sampling. Results: Two types of interpreters were revealed by the analysis: interpreters with Arabic as their mother tongue and interpreters with Korean as their mother tongue. Patients emphasized the origin of the interpreters and differentiated between the two types of interpreters’ professionalism, abilities, and personal skills. However, due to the huge gap between the two cultures, languages, and religions, the UAE patients mainly preferred the Arabic medical interpreters. Further, each type had certain traits that impacted the medical care process and patients’ satisfaction. Conclusion: This study shows that the South Korean government needs to focus on the training and assessment system for Arabic language interpreters. Additionally, cultural differences training for the interpreters may help to increase UEA patients’ satisfaction.