title: Health risks, travel preparation, and illness among public health professionals during international travel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data currently exist on health risks faced by public health professionals (PHP) during international travel. We conducted pre- and post-travel health surveys to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and illnesses among PHP international travelers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous surveys were completed by PHP from a large American public health agency who sought a pre-travel medical consult from September 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were completed by 122 participants; travelers went to 163 countries. Of the 122 respondents, 97 (80%) reported at least one planned health risk activity (visiting rural areas, handling animals, contact with blood or body fluids, visiting malarious areas), and 50 (41%) reported exposure to unanticipated health risks. Of the 62 travelers who visited malarious areas, 14 (23%) reported inconsistent or no use of malaria prophylaxis. Illness during travel was reported by 33 (27%) respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the PHP travelers in our study reported at least one planned health risk activity, and almost half reported exposure to unanticipated health risks, and one-quarter of travelers to malarious areas reported inconsistent or no use of malaria chemoprophylaxis. Our findings highlight that communication and education outreach for PHP to prevent travel-associated illnesses can be improved.
authors.affiliation: CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Travelers' Health Branch, USA. Electronic address: vbalaban@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balaban
authors.affiliation: CDC, Occupational Health and Prevention Services, USA.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warnock
authors.affiliation: CDC, Occupational Health and Prevention Services, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramana Dhara
authors.affiliation: CDC, Occupational Health and Prevention Services, USA.
authors.forename: Lee Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jean-Louis
authors.affiliation: CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Travelers' Health Branch, USA.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sotir
authors.affiliation: CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Travelers' Health Branch, USA.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kozarsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057236:Travel Medicine
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: Health risks; International travel; Occupational travel medicine; Pre-travel consultations; Public health professionals