title: Immediate recall of health issues discussed during a pre-travel consultation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An important role of pre-travel consultations is to improve travelers' understanding of travel-related diseases, but the efficacy of education provided is unknown. This study sought to assess recall and knowledge immediately following a pre-travel consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at a hospital-based pre-travel clinic in Melbourne, Australia. Travelers aged ≥16 years seen between September 2010 and March 2012 were invited to complete an anonymous self-administered questionnaire immediately following their consultation to assess knowledge of appropriate preventive measures and presumptive self-treatment strategies for common travel risks. The doctor of each participating traveler also completed a survey regarding issues discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 300 participants were recruited (34% male, median age 31 years). Most were traveling for vacation (77%) and reported previous travel (95%). Main travel destinations were Asia (43%), Americas (21%), and Africa (17%). Doctors' and travelers' surveys showed variable levels of concordance: 94% of patients recalled discussion of malaria, 84% rabies, and 76% dengue. For malaria, 95% remembered discussions regarding insect repellents, and 92% recalled that medical advice should be sought if fever developed. For travelers with whom rabies was discussed, 94% recalled that medical advice must be urgently sought following a bite/scratch. For travelers' diarrhea (TD), 99% knew to drink only boiled/bottled water, but 13% did not recall avoiding unpeeled fruit/vegetables as a prevention strategy. There was 20% discordance between doctors and travelers regarding antibiotics for TD self-treatment, but only 4% discordance regarding prescription of malaria prophylaxis. Factors associated with improved recall were doctor discussion, previous travel, and a university education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key travel health messages are well assimilated after pre-travel consultation. However, large amounts of information are discussed and immediate recollection of all information is not possible. This study reinforces the importance of providing supplementary information (eg, written and/or electronic resources) to accompany pre-travel consultations.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS), Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McGuinness
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.forename: Douglas F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult