Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28645947›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2017

Role, structure and effects of medical tourism in Africa: a systematic scoping review protocol.

John Jo Mogaka, Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni, Lucia M Mupara, Tivani Mashamba-Thompson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Mental health impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers versus adults in Africa.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2024
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Capacity Development of Research Ethics Administrators: Scoping Review.Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE · 2022
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

John Jo MogakaDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Joyce M Tsoka-GwegweniDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Lucia M MuparaDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Tivani Mashamba-ThompsonDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSome patients travel out of, while others come into Africa for medical care through a growing global phenomenon referred to as medical tourism (MT): the travel in search of medical care that is either unavailable, unaffordable or proscribed at home healthcare systems. While some castigate MT as promoting healthcare inequity, others endorse it as a revenue generator, promising local healthcare system strengthening. Currently, however, the understanding of this component of healthcare in Africa is inadequate. This study seeks to determine the level of knowledge on the role, structure and effect of MT in Africa as it relates to healthcare systems in the region.

methodsConduct a systematic scoping review to outline the role, structure and effect of MT in Africa. Databases: Academic Search Complete, Business Source Complete. Studies mapped in two stages: (1) mapping the studies based on the relevance of their titles and subject descriptors; (2) applying further inclusion criteria on studies from stage 1. Two reviewers will independently assess study quality and abstract data. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis will be performed, using STATA V.13 and NVIVO, respectively. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study results will be disseminated by publication in peer-reviewed journals and findings presented at academic and industry conferences related to MT, public health, health systems strengthening and tourism. DISCUSSION: MT spurs cutting-edge medical technologies, techniques and best practices in healthcare delivery. The two-tier healthcare landscape in Africa, however, presents an exceptionally unique context in which to situate this study. Much has been written about MT globally, but not much is known about the phenomenon in Africa; hence the appropriateness of this scientific assessment of MT in the region. By elucidating the role, structure and effect of this phenomenon, this study hopes to contribute to health systems strengthening in Africa. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016039745.

Indexed as

Healthcare DisparitiesMedical TourismPublic HealthAfricaHumansResearch DesignScoping Reviews as Topicglobal healthhealthcare systemshealth services researchmedical tourismpublic health

Identifiers

PMID28645947
PMCPMC5541447

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.