Factors that Influence People to Travel Abroad to Secure Treatment - Research Proposal Example

COSMETIC SURGERY TOURISM Student’s name Code & Course Professor’s name University City Date Cosmetic Surgery Tourism Abstract The cosmetic surgery field is one of the biggest growth areas in the medical field today. Costs have gone down, cultural biases have changed and the number of people who can access these services has increased, especially in the countries considered the emerging markets. One such country in China, which has had its citizens flooding the neighboring South Korea for cosmetic surgery, a booming industry into which the South Korean Government is now pouring up to 4 million dollars every year (Stevenson 2014).Many women now visit South Korea, which has numerous and cosmetic surgery clinics, as well as highly skilled practitioners. This paper seeks to explore the factors that influence people to travel abroad to secure treatment. It will do so by performing a qualitative study of Chinese Women drawn from Tourist and student communities across London. The study will be conducted on 300 Chinese women, drawn from Coventry and Greenwich Universities, and from tourist hotspots across London. 1.0 Introduction Medical tourism is emerging as one of the biggest sources of tourism revenue and reasons for travel across the world. Of particular interest in the medial tourism sector is cosmetic surgery tourism. One might use five dynamics of globalization to describe the movements associated with cosmetic surgery tourism in the modern world. There are five non-isomorphic flows in the world: ethnoscapes, the temporary or permanent flow of people, mediascapes, and the flows of images, finan-scapes (money), ideoscapes (ideologies) and technoscapes (technology) (Holliday, et al., 2014). All these have had an impact on the growth of cosmetic surgery tourism. In terms of ethnoscapes, there are two aspects of movements of people that are helpful. The obvious movements are those of the tourists themselves. One finds that many routes have ben enduring over time. Traditional tourist destinations adapt and change their focus, becoming new hubs of cosmetic surgery tourism (Thompson 2011). Marbella, for instance, has transformed from a glamorous resort destination to a new CST destination (Holiday et al., 2013). However, medical personnel also move, trading on training and education, mostly in western countries, to improve their credentials. Technoscapes have technological quality markers being markets for hospitals. Some areas have become hubs for special technologies. Medical and especially cosmetic surgery tourism is grounded a lot on mediascapes. The media is often cited as the cause of plastic surgery worldwide, through the promotion of beauty standards, or the demystification of the process itself (Jones 2012). Economic conditions and finan-scapes also either enable or discourage cosmetic surgery tourism. Exchange rates and incentives make certain areas lucrative, while dynamics in the flow of money makes it easy to track payments. In fact, research continually refutes the idea that cosmetic surgery tourists are wealthy westerners. Many are simple modest customers, who could not afford the procedures in their native countries (Holliday, et al., 2014). The effects of the financial crisis have resulted in the opening up of new cosmetic surgery tourism markets like Thailand and Malaysia (Bochaton 2013). The purpose of this study is to Analyze the factors that affect cosmetic surgery Analyze the problems and issue that exist in plastic surgery today and explore potential solutions to these issues Explore the future direction in plastic surgery tourism trends Research questions It will do so by asking the following broad questions to How and why does the average cosmetic surgery patient learn about and consider plastic surgery What are the most favorable cosmetic surgery destinations and why What are the biggest obstacles to finding quality cosmetic surgical care What aspects of the wholesome cosmetic tourism journey would one change if they could 2.0 Literature Review Goodman (2013) points out that plastic surgery involves the restoration and correction of form and various entities of the human body. Chang & Neligan (2012) explain that plastic surgery itself is not necessarily cosmetic even though aesthetic/cosmetic surgery is the widely known type of plastic surgery. The process involves quite a number of reconstructive surgeries, hand surgery, craniofacial surgery and microsurgery. It may also involve the treatment of burns (Cameron & Cameron 2013). As such, going through plastic surgery has overtime developed into a common procedure acceptable and practiced by classes that can afford. The number of people going for plastic surgeries has increased overtime; medical statistics reveal (Herrera et al., 2013). This number not only entails patients with certain body or skin conditions that are only repairable through plastic surgery but also those who engage the surgery for the sake of form corrections and improvements (Lee 2013). With the rise in the number of people, especially ladies, paying closer attention to physical appearance in terms of facial appeal and figure orientation, most people have opted for plastic surgery as a permanent solution giver. Galanis et al, (2013) explain that the preference and continual use of these services could be attributed also to the increase in number of celebrity or public figures also going through these surgeries. The practice of plastic surgery, however, is limited to a few experts who can perform it with admirable and accurate precision (Yu & Ko 2012). Notably, Rohrich & Weinstein (2014) observe, there are a huge number of reported cases of plastic surgeries that have gone bad. Such cases have been characterized by negative outcomes of plastic surgeries that have caused long term, if not, permanent cases of deformations and complications to the bodies of the victims. Therefore, people seeking plastic surgery services have to consider a number of factors before settling in for the right doctors to perform the surgery. In most cases, referrals have played a major role in helping people make choices on the hospitals to visit and the doctors to undertake the procedures (Holliday & Elfving-Hwang 2012). Furthermore, other factors such as the convenience and hospital infrastructure, medical efficiency, medical technology present and price rates are other factors that are considered by those intending to undergo plastic surgery (Herrera et al., 2013). Above all, as a highly sensitive field of surgery and naturally like any other form of surgery, Yu & Ko (2012) posit, the medical facilities’ reputation in performing such surgeries is highly scrutinized. In most countries in the world, Connell (2013) postulates, the levels of plastic surgeries being conducted and practiced are still below societal expectation standards. This could be attributed to a number of factors, such as; inadequacy of skilled personnel able to handle such high profile surgeries and limited resources for such operations (Yuan & Ogawa 2015). Consequently, people to go through this operation are therefore forced to travel far and wide looking for experts and technologically equipped facilities, effectively prepared and set to handle these surgeries. South Korea, for instance, has greatly benefitted from the number of foreigners visiting the country for cosmetic surgery (Davies & Windsor 2012). Other countries in North Europe and Brazil have also established a healthy reputation in conducting plastic and cosmetic surgeries. As such, they prove to be attractive destination points to people seeking these services. Lee (2013) points out that over the past 10 years, the number of people travelling to other countries for plastic surgery has doubled. As Cameron & Cameron (2013) explain, the need and increasing demand for plastic surgery is a major contributor to the tourism sector. Countries that pride in offering quality plastic surgery procedures have stood tall in attracting medical tourists to the country, thus benefitting from this form of medical tourism. As a field that has overtime experienced increased demand and subsequent insurmountable growth, plastic or cosmetic surgery has coined a tourism industry of its own; cosmetic surgery tourism (Goodman 2013). The sector currently is able to organize and make the travel arrangements for its clients. A number of agencies are coming up to facilitate these exercises and the services include offering a reliable and appropriate recovery program for its customers after surgery (Yuan & Ogawa 2015). Consequently, with these developments being put in place and the improvement in the surgery procedures, the service is even growing more expensive and it is no surprise that a stunning 67% of those using the services are the rich and wealthy class (Herrera et al., 2013). Cosmetic surgery tourism is bound to continue experiencing numerous growths in years to come. This is because of the increased number of clientele seeking plastic surgeries and cosmetic surgeries (Connell 2013). With constant refinements and improvements being made on technology and new innovations of equipments and facilities, it can be projected that the operations may only keep getting better and much safer (Chang & Neligan 2012). Institutions of learning and medical schools are also going way further in facilitating effective training of medics to take over the plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery fields (Holliday & Elfving-Hwang 2012). This increased interest has developed with the realization that the field is a potential income earner and an economic builder as a tourism sector. Therefore, for countries that are already well established and famed for offering plastic surgery, medical tourism being boosted by cosmetic surgery tourism is bound to grow at a high rate. Nevertheless, other countries, realizing that much of the income is going to foreign nations’ economies through cosmetic surgery tourism are also coming up in introducing and encouraging plastic surgery facilities (Lee 2013). In addition, the countries are encouraging and promoting the training of doctors to specialize in this form of surgery including sending them to more developed countries to acquire the knowledge and skills required. 3.0 Research Methods Procedures The major purpose of the paper is to inform everyone involved in the cosmetics surgery industry. Cosmetics surgery agents, patients and the intermediaries in the industry will benefit from the information and conclusions made by the paper. Patients or the cosmetic surgery tourists, the biggest stakeholders in the cosmetic surgery tourism sector, will also benefit immensely from the results of this research process. There are, however, several issues worth mentioning that might get in the way of the credibility of the results collected or which might warrant assumptions in the final tallying and arrival at conclusions. The research project is about travel abroad for surgery. However, the pool of respondents chosen is from tourist and student communities in London. This is necessitated by the fact that it is generally difficult to access current patient information, and basing the study entirely on secondary information and research would be inconclusive. However, the study generally assumes that the respondents involved in the study have or know someone who has information, or gone through the cosmetic surgery tourism process. The student and tourist communities in the busiest tourism hotspots are also the easiest locations in which to find Chinese nationals in the Country. There are three important aspects of research design; data collection, instrument development and sampling (Bhattacherjee 2012). Broadly, the data collection technique used in this research process is interpretive. It begins with data collection, then attempts to draw conclusions based on the collected data. This study therefore takes into account the four validity attributes. It investigates whether change in corresponding variables happens as a result of the independent variables hypothesized or by variables that are extraneous. It ensures external validity, which is the determination of whether or one can generalize the results for the larger population from the smaller sample. The research procedure employs construct validity techniques, making sure all the measurement scales used in the collection of data are effective. Many variables or constructs in social sciences are often difficult to measure, making construct validity a particular area of concern and concentration for this research process. Finally, statistical conclusion validity ensures that the conclusions the researcher derives from the data collected are valid (Bhattacherjee 2012). The main validity technique used in the research process is random selection. The research process uses a combination of both field surveys and analysis of secondary data. Secondary data is especially important in comparing the trends and developments of various constructs in influencing trends in cosmetic surgery tourism. This helps in the formulation of hypotheses and setting especially of independent variables. Secondary data analysis involves the use of data collected and documented by other sources. The study also used field surveys in designing the data collection process. The researcher used non-experimental techniques to measure variables using various statistical methods. The research made use of both questionnaires and interviews to collect information. Researching social sciences often variables or constructs that are difficult to measure, and define. Considering the targeted sample, language barriers were a major concern. There was always an interpreter on hand to provide explanations and clarifications every step of the way. It is difficult to condense information from social sciences, so the interviewer and questionnaire design mainly used the Likert scale as a measurement and recording tool. The Likert scale allows for greater fine tuning of the responses as opposed to the binary scale (Bhattacherjee 2012). 4.0 Research methods: procedures (Sampling and Ethics) One of the common sources of bias in social sciences research is the issue of method bias. Method biases often come from the response tendencies that people apply across different data collection processes, proximity of questions or items in a data collection instrument and similar structure or wording of the items in data collection instruments. Bias might also come from similarities in the instruments themselves or the location where information gathering happens (Podsakoff, et al. 2012). The researcher avoided issues resulting from method bias by identifying the most likely causes and devising strategies to combat them. The first source considered was ability factors. Here, one must be careful to consider the ability of participants to give accurate responses. If they are unable to, then it is likely that they will give the most fashionably appropriate response. This was a particular concern among the tourists, so the researcher made sure to use questionnaires, which were faster and anonymous. There was always an interpreter in case of anything. Another possible source of inability could be low cognitive ability. The researcher assumed that the samples from the two university had a high enough cognitive ability to answer questions truthfully. Another source of method bias is motivation; this is the question of whether there is enough motivation for the respondent to provide the researcher with accurate answers. The design of the questions, especially making use of a binary and Likert scale reduced the unfavorable social impact of the response process on the respondents. Task factors might also contribute to bias. The harder it is for respondents to generate accurate answers, the more difficult it will be for the researcher to receive credible results. The design of the study was such that it minimized the difficulty of answering questions, and maximized the motivation of the respondent to provide accurate answers (Podsakoff, et al. 2012). The researcher also took into account ethical responsibility in the design of the research project. Four obligations governed the ethical standards set by the researcher along the course of the research project. The researcher has an obligation to society. For the research to remain relevant to society, it has to follow the right legal and moral order. The researcher completed all the legal requirements by the university and social welfare authorities. The research process employed high quality scientific methods to ensure credibility. The researcher maintained a clear and committed relationship with the research sponsor. The relationship structure was such that it did not compromise the commitment to morality or ethics. The researcher also maintained an ethical responsibility to colleagues. The researcher cited and acknowledged all information gathered from secondary sources and from colleagues in the industry. The researcher always maintained the safety of all colleagues helping out in the field. Finally, the researcher maintained a responsibility to the respondents involved. The researcher protected the respondents from any possible harm, physical, mental or otherwise. The researcher made sure to receive written consent from each of the respondents before administering any instruments. The researcher made sure participating was only voluntary and that the respondents and participants had as much information as possible. 5.0 Budget The biggest budgetary burden will be the preparation of questionnaires, interview transcripts, travel and the purchase of equipment. Consent from students was sought and confirmed through email, so there was no considerable cost involved. However, for the tourists, there was need for consent on site, which necessitated the printing of permission letters, approved by the school and local authorities. The researcher chose tourists from five famous destinations, and resulting in considerable travelcost. The equipment required were recording devices. Source Cost Preparation of interview transcripts 1000 Preparation of questionnaires 1000 Purchase of equipment 5000 Travel cost 3000 Total 10000 6.0 Timescale The researcher considered timescale one of the more important aspects of the research. Planning time beforehand and following through is important because it allows enough time to communicate with the stakeholders and get the appropriate permissions. It allows enough time for the research team to discuss the research, and collect information in a responsible and ethical manner. It allows time to follow the right procedures to ensure credibility and write reports. Task Duration Choosing the topic 2 weeks Research design 2 weeks Setting timeline 1 week Preparation and obtaining equipment 2 weeks Collection of information 3 weeks Analysis and report writing 3 weeks Presentation 2 days Total 15 weeks Reference list Bhattacherjee, A., (2012) Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices. 2nd ed. Tampa: University of South Florida, School of Commons Textbooks Collection. Bochaton, A., 2013. The Rise of a transnational Healthcare Paradigm: Thai Hospitals at the Crossroads of New Patient Flows. European Journal of Transnational Studies, Volume 5, pp. 54- 75. Cameron, J. L., & Cameron, A. M. (2013) Current surgical therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences. Chang, J., & Neligan, P. C. (2012). Plastic surgery (Vol. 6). Elsevier Health Sciences. Connell, J. (2013). Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and commodification. Tourism Management, 34, 1-13. Davies, R., & Windsor, D. (2012) Plastic surgery. Anaesthesia for Emergency Care, 249. Galanis, C., Sanchez, I. S., Roostaeian, J., & Crisera, C. (2013) Factors influencing patient interest in plastic surgery and the process of selecting a surgeon. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 33(4), 585-590. Goodman, M. (2013). Female genital plastic/cosmetic surgery. The journal of sexual medicine, 10(8), 2125-2126. Herrera, F. A., Chang, E. I., Suliman, A., Tseng, C. Y., & Bradley, J. P. (2013) Recent trends in resident career choices after plastic surgery training. Annals of plastic surgery, 70(6), 694-697. Holliday, R., & Elfving-Hwang, J. (2012) Gender, globalization and aesthetic surgery in South Korea. Body & Society, 18(2), 58-81. Holiday, R. et al., 2013. Beautiful face, beautiful place: relational geographies and gender in cosmetic surgery tourism websites. Gender, Place and Culture. Holliday, R. et al., 2014. Brief encounters: Assembling cosmetic surgery tourism. Social Science & Medicine, pp. 1-7. Jones, M., 2012. Cosmetic Surgery and the Fashionable Face. Fashion Theory: the Journal of Dress, Body and Culture, 16(2), pp. 193- 210. Lee, H. (2013). Plastic surgery lifts South Korean tourism. Podsakoff, P. M., Mackenzie, S. B. & Podsakoff, N. P., 2012. Sources of Method Bias in Social Science Research and Recommendations on How to Control It. Annual Review of Psychology, Volume 63, pp. 539-569. Rohrich, R. J., & Weinstein, A. (2014) Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Hybrid Open- Access Medical Journal. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 134(1), 165-167. Stevenson, A., (2014) Plastic Surgery Tourism Brings Chinese to South Korea. [Online] Available at: . [Accessed 18 June 2015]. Thompson, C., 2011. Afterword: Science as a Vacation?Body and Society, Volume 17, pp. 205- 213 Vardanian, A. J., Kusnezov, N., Im, D. D., Lee, J. C., & Jarrahy, R. (2013) Social media use and impact on plastic surgery practice. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 131(5), 1184- 1193. Yu, J. Y., & Ko, T. G. (2012) A cross-cultural study of perceptions of medical tourism among Chinese, Japanese and Korean tourists in Korea. Tourism Management, 33(1), 80-88. Yuan, Y., & Ogawa, R. (2015) Tissue-Engineered Breast Reconstruction: Bridging the Gap toward Large-Volume Tissue Engineering in Humans. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 135(1), 236e-237e. Appendix Questionnaire Questions Yes No Have you ever had cosmetic surgery If not, do you know anyone who has had cosmetic surgery? Was the surgery done locally or abroad? Were there plastic surgery options locally? Was it cheaper to do the surgery locally or abroad? Were the doctors more qualified abroad than locally? Were there more credible hospitals abroad than there were locally? Would you/they choose the same plastic surgery path in retrospect? Were there any significant obstacles to the cosmetic surgery care Are there any new cosmetic surgery techniques available abroad? Questions Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Strongly agree I Understand what cosmetic surgery is It is better to travel abroad for surgery Cosmetic surgery care is cheaper abroad The media plays a major role in providing knowledge about plastic surgery Cosmetic surgery Hospitals abroad have greater credibility Countries should facilitate cosmetic surgery tourism It is easier to find plastic surgery hospitals abroad Plastic surgery is unnatural and unacceptable My friends and family approve of cosmetic surgery I would not change the cosmetic surgery experience if given the chance Read More