International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs
Abstract
Aims: Tourist health is an emerging field as increasing numbers of older adults travel internationally. Yet, little is known about the physiatry needs of foreign travelers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of foreign patients receiving physiatry care in a high-volume tourist destination and to test whether traumatic and neurological conditions are the main reasons for inpatient admission, while spinal disorders predominate among outpatients and inpatients are older than outpatients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 137 foreign patients (68 inpatients, 69 outpatients) admitted to a physiatry clinic in a high-volume tourist destination between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were analyzed.
Results: Inpatients were generally older (median age 80.50 years, interquartile range (IQR): 62.75-84.00) and most often required rehabilitation after trauma and neurological events, while outpatients were younger (median age 45.00 years, IQR: 39.00-64.00) and mainly presented with spinal pain. Trauma was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of inpatient admission, whereas EU/EEA & Western European origin was associated with lower odds of inpatient status compared to other origin countries. Hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity observed.
Conclusion: Physiatry clinics in tourist areas care for a diverse, predominantly older inpatient population and a younger outpatient group with spine-related complaints. These findings highlight the need to strengthen geriatric rehabilitation and spine care capacity in high-tourism regions.
Keywords
- Physical and rehabilitation medicine
- travel
- spinal diseases
- fractures; bone
- cerebrovascular disorders
- aged
Supporting Institution
None.
Ethical Statement
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health, Antalya City Hospital (Date: 19.06.2025, Decision No:8/49).
Thanks
The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ahmet Nedim Yanat, chief physician Özkan Aydın, and the information technology team of Anatolia Hospital for their valuable permissions and assistance in organizing the tourist patient records.
References
- Carrera PM, Bridges JF. Globalization and healthcare: understanding health and medical tourism. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2006;6(4):447-454. doi:10.1586/14737167.6.4.447
- Pasini W. Tourist health as a new branch of public health. World Health Stat Q. 1989;42(2):77-84.
- United Nations World Tourism Organization. International tourism recovers prepandemic levels in 2024 [Internet]. 2025 Jan 21 [cited 2025 Feb 14]. Available from: https://www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-recovers-pre-pandemic-levels-in2024
- Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Tourism statistics [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Feb 14]. Available from: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ktb.gov.tr%2FEklenti%2F131300%2Cborder-statistics-2024xlsxxlsx.xlsx%3F0%26_tag1%3D3AC7B91458018CB040914C225ECDA20A064 B732E&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
- United Nations World Tourism Organization. World Tourism Barometer. Vol. 22, Issue 2. Madrid: UNWTO; 2024 May [cited 2025 Feb 14]. Available from: https://prewebunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-06/Barom_PPT_May_2024.pdf?VersionId=U7O62HatlG4eNAj.wcmuQG1PMCjK.Y ss
- Woś M, Korzeniewski K. The older traveller. Int Marit Health. 2018;69(4): 285-296. doi:10.5603/IMH.2018.0045
- Carrera L. Age tourism: going beyond health and "triple S" tourism toward a new request of journey. Front Sociol. 2025 25;9:1395405. doi:10.3389/fsoc.2024.1395405
- Qiao G, Ding L, Xiang K, Prideaux B, Xu J. Understanding the value of tourism to seniors' health and positive aging. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 28;19(3):1476. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031476
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Public Health (Other), Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
October 25, 2026
Submission Date
June 28, 2026
Acceptance Date
September 1, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 5
APA
Yılmaz Muluk, S., Demirci, S., & Açıkgöz, B. (2026). International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(5), 979-984. https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT
AMA
1.Yılmaz Muluk S, Demirci S, Açıkgöz B. International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(5):979-984. https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT
Chicago
Yılmaz Muluk, Selkin, Seden Demirci, and Bektaş Açıkgöz. 2026. “International Patients Attending a Physiatry Clinic in a Major Tourist Destination: Clinical Characteristics and Rehabilitation Needs”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (5): 979-84. https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT.
EndNote
Yılmaz Muluk S, Demirci S, Açıkgöz B (October 1, 2026) International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 5 979–984.
IEEE
[1]S. Yılmaz Muluk, S. Demirci, and B. Açıkgöz, “International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 979–984, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT
ISNAD
Yılmaz Muluk, Selkin - Demirci, Seden - Açıkgöz, Bektaş. “International Patients Attending a Physiatry Clinic in a Major Tourist Destination: Clinical Characteristics and Rehabilitation Needs”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/5 (October 1, 2026): 979-984. https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT.
JAMA
1.Yılmaz Muluk S, Demirci S, Açıkgöz B. International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:979–984.
MLA
Yılmaz Muluk, Selkin, et al. “International Patients Attending a Physiatry Clinic in a Major Tourist Destination: Clinical Characteristics and Rehabilitation Needs”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 979-84, https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT.
Vancouver
1.Selkin Yılmaz Muluk, Seden Demirci, Bektaş Açıkgöz. International patients attending a physiatry clinic in a major tourist destination: clinical characteristics and rehabilitation needs. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;7(5):979-84. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA68RK66WT
