Vol.116 (Healthcare and Nursing 2015), pp.88-92 http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/astl.2015. The Correlation between Medical Tourism Coordinators' s, Burnout and Satisfaction Hee Jung Kim 1, Nam Young Yang 2 1 Graduate School, Dept. of Nursing, Konyang University 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Daejeon, 35365, South Korea khj94949@gmail.com 2 Dept. of Nursing, Konyang University 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Daejeon, 35365, South Korea Corresponding Author: nyyang@konyang.ac.kr Abstract. In this study, medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics, job burnout and job satisfaction are examined to evaluate the relationship between these variables. The research subjects were 102 medical tourism coordinators employed at domestic medical organizations which are officially certified to attract overseas patients to South Korea. The mean score was 3.84/5 for job characteristics, 2.98/7 for job burnout and 3.46/5 for job satisfaction. Results did not show significant differences in job characteristics according to general characteristics. Whereas job burnout (p=.042) and job satisfaction (p=.039) were significantly different according to work location. Results also showed that medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics positively correlated with job satisfaction (p=.008). Conversely, job burnout negatively correlated with job satisfaction (p<.001). Keywords: Medical Tourism, Coordinator, s, Burnout, Satisfaction 1 Introduction Medical Tourism is a specialized field. Moreover, it is a pioneering field in which high income can be expected to increase, and it is an industry which is able to produce high profits without high expense since overseas patients cover all costs [1]. A medical tourism coordinator refers to an expert who provides overall services for overseas patients for medical treatment and touring for pleasure [2]. The role of medical tourism coordinators is versatile, but it is mainly to assist patients and their family members with services relating to medical tourism [3]. It is important to recognize their job characteristics since their jobs consist of various roles. Also, they may experience a high level of burnout as they undertake a new role and aim to attract overseas patients. A medical tourism coordinator is the most influencing factor on overseas patients' levels of satisfaction [4]. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify job characteristics, burnout and satisfaction of medical tourism coordinators. ISSN: 2287-1233 ASTL Copyright 2015 SERSC
2 Methods This study was conducted to investigate the job satisfaction of 102 Medical Tourism Coordinators. It was accepted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. 3 Results The mean score of medical tourism coordinators was 3.84/5 for job characteristics, 2.98/7 for job burnout, 3.46/5 for job satisfaction <Table 1>. Medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics in relation to general characteristics, did not show significant differences <Table 2>. However, medical tourism coordinators' job burnout showed significant differences according to work location (t=-2.06, p=.042) <Table 3>. Moreover, medical tourism coordinators' job satisfaction also showed significant differences according to work location (t=2.09, p=.039) <Table 4>. Medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics positively correlated with job satisfaction (r=.26, p=.008). Conversely, job burnout negatively correlated with job satisfaction (r=-.59, p<.001) <Table 5>. Table 1. Medical Tourism Coordinators' s, Burnout and Satisfaction Variable Sub-variable Range s Burnout Satisfaction Task Identity Skill Variety Feedback Autonomy 4.14±0.58 4.13±0.64 3.59±0.64 3.48±0.78 Total 3.84±0.46 Emotional Exhaustion Personal Accomplishment Depersonalization 3.52±1.23 2.77±1.21 2.37±1.29 Total 2.98±0.94 Co-worker(s) Itself Supervision Turnover Intention place Pay 3.90±0.73 3.89±0.73 3.56±0.88 3.35±0.97 3.20±0.60 2.84±0.68 Total 3.46±0.50 1 5 1 7 1 5 Copyright 2015 SERSC 89
Table 2. Differences of Medical Tourism Coordinators' s According to s Age 21-30 s 3.79±0.36 3.87±0.51 3.76±0.40 3.93±0.42 3.78±0.60 3.84±0.54 3.83±0.40 -.87 (.385) 1.56 (.214).04 (.964) Major Health-Related Seoul Metropolitan Region s 3.84±0.49.24 3.82±0.35 (.808) 3.91±0.58 3.79±0.35 3.89±0.51 3.74±0.34 1.20 (.233) 1.70 (.091) Table 3. Differences of Medical Tourism Coordinators' Burnout According to s Age 21-30 Burnout 3.05±0.84 2.94±1.00 2.91±0.82 3.17±1.00 2.73±0.97 3.06±1.04 2.92±0.86.54 (.589) 1.81 (.169).72 (.469) Major Health-Related Burnout 2.97±0.98 3.03±0.81 3.05±0.99 2.94±0.91 Seoul Metropolitan Region2.85±0.90 3.25±0.98 -.28 (.773).55 (.583) -2.06 (.042) Table 4. Differences of Medical Tourism Coordinators' Satisfaction According to s Satisfaction 3.37±0.48 3.51±0.51-1.41 (.160) Satisfaction 3.46±0.52 3.43±0.46 Age 21-30 3.56±0.52 2.38 Major Health-Related 3.50±0.49.71.27 (.784) 90 Copyright 2015 SERSC
3.33±0.49 3.53±0.45 (.097) 3.43±0.51 (.474) 3.44±0.51 3.47±0.50 -.30 (.761) Seoul Metropolitan Region3.53±0.51 3.31±0.46 2.09 (.039) Table 5. Correlations Among s, Burnout and Satisfaction of Medical Tourism Coordinators Variable s r Burnout r Satisfaction.26 (.008) -.59 (<.001) 4 Discussion This study was conducted to identify job characteristics, job burnout and job satisfaction of medical tourism coordinators. Medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics indicated more than the medium level which was 3.84/5. characteristics showed 4.14 out of 5 for Task Identity, 4.13 for Skill Variety, 3.59 for Feedback, and 3.48 for Autonomy. The high score for Task Identity is most likely a result of the fact that medical tourism coordinators should provide 1 to 1 service to overseas patients before and after medical tourism regarding ethical and legal issues during service [5]. Medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics in relation to general characteristics did not show significant differences. That is, it is not relevant to recognize job characteristics according to general characteristics. The mean score of medical tourism coordinators was 2.98/7 for job burnout. This showed 3.52 out of 7 for Emotional Exhaustion, 2.77 for Personal Accomplishment, and 2.37 for Depersonalization. Medical tourism coordinators' work location showed significant differences concerning job burnout. This showed that medical tourism coordinators working in the Seoul metropolitan region had a lower level of job burnout than those in other regions. The mean score of medical tourism coordinators was 3.46/5 for job satisfaction. satisfaction showed 3.90 for Co-worker(s), 3.89 for Itself, 3.56 for Supervision, 3.35 for Turnover Intention, 3.20 for place, and 2.84 for Pay. This result shows that medical tourism coordinators are satisfied with their jobs overall and most are satisfied with Co-worker(s). Thus, environments including opportunities for interpersonal relationships between co-workers and enhancing team work should be established to increase job satisfaction. In addition, it is necessary to increase satisfaction of work itself by providing opportunities for further education and training. Medical tourism coordinators' work location showed significant differences regarding job satisfaction. It was revealed that medical tourism coordinators working in the Seoul metropolitan region had a higher level of satisfaction than those working in other regions. Medical tourism coordinators' job characteristics positively correlated with job satisfaction. Conversely, job burnout negatively correlated with job satisfaction. As a result, the more medical tourism Copyright 2015 SERSC 91
coordinators' job characteristics are clarified, the more medical tourism coordinators' job satisfaction increased. Furthermore, as medical tourism coordinators' job burnout decreased, the more medical tourism coordinators' job satisfaction increased. This finding is similar to a study of hospital nurses by Kim et al. [6] regarding the correlation between job characteristics and job satisfaction. Additionally, studies of tourism service employees by Kim et al. [7] showed the same findings concerning the correlation between job burnout and job satisfaction. This finding suggests that when experiencing job burnout, interpersonal relationships such as co-workers' support will be useful not only to decrease job burnout but also to increase job satisfaction. References 1. Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), https://www.khidi.or.kr/board/view?linkid=148924&menuid=menu00088 2. An, H.G., Park, D.H., Jang, B.J.: "An Exploratory Study on the Curriculum Development for Medical Tourism Experts", Northeast Asia Tourism Research, Vol.7, No.4, pp.169-185 (2011) 3. International Meditour Coordinator Association, http://www.imca.kr/sub31_10.html 4. In, S.H., Nam, M.H., Chung, K.I.: "Mediating Effects of Intrinsic Motivation on the Relationship between the Psychological Capital and Organizational Commitment in the Medical Tourism Corporations", International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol.28, No.7, pp.87-101 (2014) 5. Ben-Natan, M., Ben-Sefer, E., Ehrenfeld, M.: "Medical Tourism: A New Role for Nursing?", The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, Vol.14, No.3 (2009) 6. Kim, S.Y., Lee, G.Y., Baek, S.S.: "Influence of s and Organizational Communication on the Satisfaction of Hospital Nurses", Health and Social Science, Vol.33, pp.135-159 (2013) 7. Kim, P.Y., Song, S.I.: "Burnout and Coping Strategies among Tourism Service Employees", Journal of the Korea Contents Association, Vol.8, No.1, pp.103-115 (2008) 92 Copyright 2015 SERSC