A Systematic Review on the Role of Positive Psychology Constructs in Shaping Experiences and Expectations in Medical Value Travel.

Positive psychology is committed to understanding, stimulating, and endorsing well-being and has a crucial role in augmenting the patient experience and involvement in medical travel. This study aims to concentrate on the role of positive psychology constrcts in shaping medical traveler’s decisions, keeping patient satisfaction and psychological well-being as mediating factors. We used online databases such as Academia, Elsevier, Emerald, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Scopus to perform a comprehensive literature search. Thirty-three research publications were identified based on the ‘PRISMA 2020’ framework. To do so, we adhered to a five-step process to enhance our comprehension of the available literature. The literature eligibility criterion is grounded on 'PICOS' procedure, and studies published between 2009 to 2024 were included. The proposed theoretical framework provides a valuable perspective on integrating positive psychology constructs with social media, health literacy, type of treatment, and socio-economic status to foster trust in the destination for medical travel. This trust aids travelers in making informed decisions to enhance health care, improve health outcomes, and offer a competitive edge to destinations. The study findings uncover the necessity of integrating positive psychology in shaping medical tourist decisions. This study is the first to provide a conceptual framework highlighting the role of positive psychology in defining traveler’s decisions for medical tourism.