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Maier JD, Anagnostopoulos A, Gazzotti A, Bühler S, Baroutsou V, Hatz C, Puhan MA, Fehr J, Farnham A. The Ready-To-Go Questionnaire predicts health outcomes during travel: a smartphone application-based analysis. J Travel Med 2023; 30:taad117. [PMID: 37669125 PMCID: PMC10755167 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ready-To-Go (R2G) Questionnaire is a tool for rapid assessment of health risks for travel consultation. This study aims to assess the utility of the R2G Questionnaire in identifying high-risk travellers and predicting health events and behaviour during travel in the TOURIST2 prospective cohort. METHODS TOURIST2 data were used to calculate the R2G medical and travel risk scores and categorize each participant based on their risk. The TOURIST2 study enrolled 1000 participants from Switzerland's largest travel clinics between 2017 and 2019. Participants completed daily smartphone application surveys before, during and after travel on health events and behaviours. We used regression models to analyse incidence of overall health events and of similar health events grouped into health domains (e.g. respiratory, gastrointestinal, accident/injury). Incidence rate ratios (IRR) are displayed with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS R2G high-risk travellers experienced significantly greater incidence of health events compared to lower-risk travellers (IRR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.33). Both the medical and travel scores showed significant positive associations with incidence of health events during travel (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16; IRR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.12, respectively), with significant increases in all health domains except skin disorders. Medical and travel risk scores were associated with different patterns in behaviour. Travellers with chronic health conditions accessed medical care during travel more often (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03-1.31), had greater difficulty in carrying out planned activities (IRR = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.05, -0.02), and rated their travel experience lower (IRR = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.06, -0.02). Travellers with increased travel-related risks due to planned travel itinerary had more frequent animal contact (IRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18) and accidents/injuries (IRR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15-1.44). CONCLUSIONS The R2G Questionnaire is a promising risk assessment tool that offers a timesaving and reliable means to identify high-risk travellers. Incorporated into travel medicine websites, it could serve as a pre-consultation triage to help travellers self-identify their risk level, direct them to the appropriate medical provider(s), and help practitioners in giving more tailored advice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian D Maier
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexia Anagnostopoulos
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Gazzotti
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silja Bühler
- Division of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Hygiene and Environment, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vasiliki Baroutsou
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hatz
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Milo A Puhan
- Department of Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Fehr
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Farnham
- Department of Public & Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Feng Y, Li G, Sun X, Li J. Identification of tourists' dynamic risk perception-the situation in Tibet. HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 9:312. [PMID: 36124039 PMCID: PMC9476431 DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper proposes an identification framework for dynamic risk perception with "Questions & Answers (Q&As) + travel notes", which newly attends to the dynamic nature of risk perception and overcomes the liabilities of traditional data collection methods, such as questionnaires and interviews, which induce high costs in data acquisition, tend to produce small sample sizes and suffer from large sample deviations. Via 2627 Q&As released by tourists before travel and 17,523 travel notes released by tourists after travel, the dynamic change in 20 identified risks before and after travel to Tibet is portrayed with the help of text mining technologies, which can automatically identify risk perception types and sentiment tendencies from massive amounts of textual data. The study finds that before travel, tourists usually underestimate risks related to safety, health and time but overestimate risks related to transportation, route selection and season. The results of the study are not only informative for destination tourism risk management and image promotion but also important for tourists to form more reasonable risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyao Feng
- School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guowen Li
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolei Sun
- Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Li
- School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- MOE Social Science Laboratory of Digital Economic Forecasts and Policy Simulation at UCAS, Beijing, China
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Kechaou-Cherif S, Hsairi M, Bouratbine A, Benkahla A, Khoufi S, Aoun K. [Knowledge of malaria and preventive attitudes of Tunisian travellers toward malaria endemic areas]. Pan Afr Med J 2022; 41:223. [PMID: 35721633 PMCID: PMC9167471 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.223.28696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction travellers to endemic areas must know malaria, its risk factors and prophylactic measures. This can help to avoid severe cases of malaria and to prevent transmission in countries that are malaria-free. The purpose of this study is to assess Tunisian travellers´ knowledge about malaria, its transmission and prevention and their adherence to prophylactic measures. Methods we conducted a survey based on two anonymous questionnaires (pre- and post-trip) among adults travelling to endemic countries. The 1st questionnaire was followed by a medical interview focusing on level of risk and recommended prophylactic measures. Results two hundred and eighty-nine travellers were recruited. They mainly moved within sub-Saharan Africa (99%) for professional reasons (84,4%). The average age of subjects was 42.3 years and sex ratio (male/female) was 3.1. Prior to departure, only 53.3% of subjects were aware of the risk of malaria, and only 28% gave correct answers about modes of transmission. Recommendations for chemoprophylaxis were only known by 62.3% of subjects and only 43.6% intended to use chemoprophylaxis (p < 0.01). Better adherence to protective measures, including chemoprophylaxis, was reported after the trip, with attitudes qualified as good or excellent by 64.2% on return against 23.7% before the interview (<0.001). Conclusion Tunisian travellers knowledge of malaria is insufficient. Strengthening information through specialized consultations (whose usefulness has been demonstrated) is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kechaou-Cherif
- Service des Vaccinations Internationales et Antirabiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13, place Pasteur, BP 74,1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisie
- Laboratoire de BioInformatique, bioMathématiques, bioStatistique, LR 16-IPT-09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Mohamed Hsairi
- Service d´Epidémiologie, Institut Salah Azaiez de Carcinologie, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Aida Bouratbine
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie Médicale, Biotechnologies et Biomolécules, LR 20-IPT-06, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Alia Benkahla
- Laboratoire de BioInformatique, bioMathématiques, bioStatistique, LR 16-IPT-09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Samy Khoufi
- Service des Vaccinations Internationales et Antirabiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13, place Pasteur, BP 74,1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisie
| | - Karim Aoun
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie Médicale, Biotechnologies et Biomolécules, LR 20-IPT-06, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
- Laboratoire d´Epidémiologie et d´Ecologie Parasitaires, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie
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Bauer IL. Healthy, safe and responsible: the modern female traveller. TROPICAL DISEASES TRAVEL MEDICINE AND VACCINES 2021; 7:14. [PMID: 34090539 PMCID: PMC8180038 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-021-00141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
One-half of all travellers are women; yet, there is a distinct lack of detailed travel health knowledge on topics of unique relevance to women. While there is medical advice relating to stages in the female lifecycle, it neglects women-specific practical aspects despite their ability to harm travellers’ health and cause inconvenience. This paper discusses comprehensively three major aspects of travel as they relate to women. First, it suggests the management of personal hygiene, bodily functions, menstruation and sexual behaviour, and alerts to the limited knowledge on travel mental health issues. Second, apart from travelling in a female body with its specific demands, being a woman requires special attention to safety and security. Within various travel contexts, women have many opportunities for minimising potential risks. Finally, guided by travel medicine’s acknowledgment of its role in the concept of responsible travel, this article goes beyond the usual general statements and broad advice and offers detailed and practical suggestions on how the female traveller can contribute to the overall goal of minimising any potential harm to fellow humans and the natural environment. Recognising the scarcity of women-specific travel information, pathways to better education, and a range of suggestions for urgent research facilitate the provision of high-quality travel health care tailored specifically to women’s needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irmgard L Bauer
- College of Healthcare Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
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