Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor

dc.contributor.advisorWilliams, Fatima
dc.contributor.authorAron, Lauren
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-07T11:06:27Z
dc.date.available2021-07-07T11:06:27Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.date.updated2021-07-07T08:11:18Z
dc.description.abstractThis study explored the concept of medical tourism and the subjective experiences of international patients seeking inpatient eating disorder (ED) treatment at a private inpatient ED clinic in South Africa. This research aimed to shed light on what patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) feel are essential features of a high-quality ED service at Akeso Montrose Manor specifically, and what they found to be concerning about ED treatments received prior, especially in the United Kingdom. The research aimed to explore the participant's reasons for seeking treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor, their expectations of treatment, their experience of treatment and their recommendations regarding the treatment of international patients. Ex-patients from the United Kingdom were chosen for this study, as a high number of admissions for treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor are from the United Kingdom. This therefore provoked an interest in exploring the reasons why these patients search for specialised out-of-country treatment. The research was conducted using a qualitative research design. Twenty participants were selected using purposive sampling by the researcher. They were interviewed face-to-face and via Skype using a semi-structured interview schedule. The data obtained was analysed using qualitative methods. The findings of this study highlighted several difficulties experienced in the United Kingdom when seeking treatment and also highlighted the value of residential inpatient treatment centres, extended treatment for ED's and the importance of specialised ED treatment teams and units. The results included that participants came to South Africa, due to challenges experienced in accessing treatment in the United Kingdom and treatment largely being dictated by weight and focused mostly on weight restoration. Expectations met during their stay in South Africa, included structure, safety and specialised ED treatment and staff and expectations not met whilst in treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor included limited time with the dietician and psychiatrist, and their belief that they would be fixed post-discharge. Participants made recommendations for the clinic with regards to the treatment of international clientele, which included more focus on post discharge planning and support. Further recommendations were made for improved service delivery at Akeso Montrose Manor as well as further research.
dc.identifier.apacitationAron, L. (2021). <i>Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor</i>. (). ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAron, Lauren. <i>"Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor."</i> ., ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAron, L. 2021. Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor. . ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Aron, Lauren AB - This study explored the concept of medical tourism and the subjective experiences of international patients seeking inpatient eating disorder (ED) treatment at a private inpatient ED clinic in South Africa. This research aimed to shed light on what patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) feel are essential features of a high-quality ED service at Akeso Montrose Manor specifically, and what they found to be concerning about ED treatments received prior, especially in the United Kingdom. The research aimed to explore the participant's reasons for seeking treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor, their expectations of treatment, their experience of treatment and their recommendations regarding the treatment of international patients. Ex-patients from the United Kingdom were chosen for this study, as a high number of admissions for treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor are from the United Kingdom. This therefore provoked an interest in exploring the reasons why these patients search for specialised out-of-country treatment. The research was conducted using a qualitative research design. Twenty participants were selected using purposive sampling by the researcher. They were interviewed face-to-face and via Skype using a semi-structured interview schedule. The data obtained was analysed using qualitative methods. The findings of this study highlighted several difficulties experienced in the United Kingdom when seeking treatment and also highlighted the value of residential inpatient treatment centres, extended treatment for ED's and the importance of specialised ED treatment teams and units. The results included that participants came to South Africa, due to challenges experienced in accessing treatment in the United Kingdom and treatment largely being dictated by weight and focused mostly on weight restoration. Expectations met during their stay in South Africa, included structure, safety and specialised ED treatment and staff and expectations not met whilst in treatment at Akeso Montrose Manor included limited time with the dietician and psychiatrist, and their belief that they would be fixed post-discharge. Participants made recommendations for the clinic with regards to the treatment of international clientele, which included more focus on post discharge planning and support. Further recommendations were made for improved service delivery at Akeso Montrose Manor as well as further research. DA - 2021_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Clinical Social Work LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2021 T1 - Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor TI - Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAron L. Medical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor. []. ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2021 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33441en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Social Development
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.subjectClinical Social Work
dc.titleMedical tourism: experiences of international patients seeking inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at Akeso Montrose Manor
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSocSci
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