JMIR Publications

Background:

Medical tourism competitiveness depends partly on workforce competencies across the clinical and nonclinical value chain. In Iran, fragmented service delivery and limited coordination of nonclinical workforce development may hinder consistent international patient services. Although international evidence has identified core competency domains, contextually adapted and role-specific frameworks for Iran remain limited.

Objective:

Building on a completed global scoping review, this protocol describes a sequential multiphase study to contextualize and operationalize a Skill-Enhancement Framework and develop an implementation-oriented policy roadmap for Iranian medical tourism.

Methods:

This protocol uses a sequential multiphase design comprising a completed scoping review, qualitative interviews, and expert consensus. Phase II will explore competency needs and workforce-development barriers among stakeholders across Iran's medical-tourism value chain, including international patients and, where necessary, accompanying caregivers, using semi-structured interviews and framework analysis. Phase III will use a multi-round electronic Delphi process with at least 20 multidisciplinary experts to refine and validate the Skill-Enhancement Framework, including assessment of anticipated patient relevance. Consensus will be defined a priori as at least 75% agreement.

Results:

Phase I (scoping review) has been completed, providing the initial competency framework. As of September 2026, initial study preparation for Phase II is underway; however, formal participant recruitment and qualitative interviews have not yet commenced, no participants have been enrolled to date, and data analysis has not yet begun. Phase II data collection is scheduled for September–November 2026. Phase III, comprising the structured Delphi consensus process, will follow Phase II completion (projected for late 2026). The final role-specific Skill-Enhancement Framework is expected to be finalized in early 2027.

Conclusions:

This study will integrate international competency evidence with context-specific qualitative insights and expert consensus to develop a role-specific Skill-Enhancement Framework for Iran’s medical-tourism stakeholders. The model is intended to provide an adaptable reference framework for workforce-development planning rather than a mandatory curriculum. Its implementation feasibility and effects on service quality, patient experience, and medical-tourism outcomes will require evaluation in subsequent studies.

International Registered Report:

DERR1-10.2196/93738