The importance of reliable information sources for prospective medical travellers

More people are travelling overseas for health or wellness reasons; however, there is limited understanding of the background of those travelling and how information is sourced for decisionmaking. Those travelling for treatment are likely to be unaware of all of the risks. Reliable information sources are scattered and not easy to find. Interviews were conducted with 51 Australians contemplating or who had travelled for stem cell treatment. Information sources people used were identified, and an analysis was undertaken of how this influenced their decision. The data highlight that health travellers are likely to search extensively using a wide range of sources including information on clinics’ websites, Facebook, blogs, friends and family. Interviewees highlight that often decisions are made based on unreliable sources. The implications are that without quality, reliable information health travellers are at risk of suffering adverse outcomes and spending significant funds without any improvement in their condition.