title: Pharmaceutical care model to assess the medication-related risks of travel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People are at greater risk of health problems when travelling and a significant number of travel-related health problems are associated with the effects of travel on pre-existing chronic diseases. Medications play a key role in the management of these conditions. However, there is a notable lack of research evaluating the potential medication-related risks associated with travel.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To apply a systematic pharmaceutical care model developed to evaluate potential pharmaceutical risks (PPRs) and pharmaceutical care issues (PCIs) in travellers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult travellers leaving Cairns International Airport, Australia, for an international destination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey using semi-structured interviews, including a systematic medication history, followed by the application of a pharmaceutical care model to evaluate each participant for PPRs and PCIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of standard clinical and travel-related PPRs and PCIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medications for chronic diseases were being taken by 47.7% of the 218 travellers interviewed. Although 75.2% of participants presented with no PPRs, a total of 274 PCIs were identified across 61.5% of the participants, with an average of 2.04 PCIs per participant. The most prevalent PCIs related to the inadequate precautions taken by some travellers visiting malaria-endemic regions. Although 91 participants recognised that they were travelling to malaria-endemic regions, 65.9% of these participants were not using malarial chemoprophylaxis, and only 16.5% were using chemoprophylaxis that fully complied with standard recommendations. The second most prevalent PCI was the need for 18.8% of participants to be educated about their medications. Other PCIs identified have the potential to increase the risk of acute, travel-related conditions, and complicate the care of travellers, if they inadvertently became unwell while overseas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPRs and PCIs were not identified in all participants. However, the impact of many of the identified medication-related issues could be substantial to the traveller. This study represents the novel application of a pharmaceutical care model to identify potential PPRs and PCIs in travellers that may not be identified by other pre-travel risk assessment methods.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy (Building 47), College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia, ian.heslop@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Heslop
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellingan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speare
authors.forename: Beverley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Glass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D055553:Prescription Drugs