title: Reporting of foodborne illness by U.S. consumers and healthcare professionals.
abstract: During 2009-2010, a total of 1,527 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013). However, in a 2011 CDC report, Scallan et al. estimated about 48 million people contract a foodborne illness annually in the United States. Public health officials are concerned with this under-reporting; thus, the purpose of this study was to identify why consumers and healthcare professionals don't report foodborne illness. Focus groups were conducted with 35 consumers who reported a previous experience with foodborne illness and with 16 healthcare professionals. Also, interviews with other healthcare professionals with responsibility of diagnosing foodborne illness were conducted. Not knowing who to contact, being too ill, being unsure of the cause, and believing reporting would not be beneficial were all identified by consumers as reasons for not reporting foodborne illness. Healthcare professionals that participated in the focus groups indicated the amount of time between patients' consumption of food and seeking treatment and lack of knowledge were barriers to diagnosing foodborne illness. Issues related to stool samples such as knowledge, access and cost were noted by both groups. Results suggest that barriers identified could be overcome with targeted education and improved access and information about the reporting process.
authors: Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. sarendt@iastate.edu
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Arendt
authors: Lakshman
authors: L
authors: Rajagopal
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Strohbehn
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Stokes
authors: Janell
authors: J
authors: Meyer
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Mandernach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003142:Communication; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005506:Food Contamination; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
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