The impact of travel acquired illness on the world traveller and family doctor and the need for pre-travel health education.
This retrospective study involved a 20% quota, age and sex stratified sample of people over 16 years of age, presenting to a group medical practice over a period of one year (N = 1568). A standardised, computer-scored, self-report questionnaire was administered. The response rate was 98.3%. 42% of respondents had travelled outwith the UK in the previous year. Of those, 42% had become ill whilst abroad. In 20.5% of cases the illness settled without treatment. However, 26% of the patients required consultation with a doctor whilst abroad and 48.4% of those becoming ill required further attention from the family doctor on return home. 5% of ill travellers were admitted to hospital abroad. 8% of all travellers did not have medical insurance cover. A large and significant population of travellers become ill whilst abroad, and travel-acquired illness has a large impact on general practice, with 1 in 5 travellers seeking GP consultation on return home. Improved practice-generated pre-travel health advice might decrease this burden on primary care.
McIntosh
I B
IB
Viewfield Medical Centre, Stirling.
Reed
J M
JM
Power
K G
KG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel