title: Experiences and perceptions of the United States Ebola Active Monitoring Program: results from a survey of Former Persons Under Monitoring in Washington, DC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess Former Persons Under Monitoring (FPUM)s' experiences and perceptions of the United States (US) Ebola Active Monitoring Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective assessment survey of FPUM.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey was distributed to FPUMs monitored in Washington, DC, during October 2014-September 2015 (n = 830).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most FPUMs (>70%) had a favourable perception of the program. Less than 5% avoided future travel or participation in outbreak response activities as a result of their monitoring experience. Approximately 29% experienced a negative consequence in the US due to their travel history. Only 19.2% reported that the Check and Report Ebola (CARE) phone was their only means of communication and 56.5% never used it for daily reporting. Experiences and perceptions varied significantly by citizenship with citizens of Ebola-affected countries more likely to have a favourable perception of the program, use CARE phones and express concern about Ebola transmission and development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FPUMs perceived the program as beneficial and undergoing monitoring was not a barrier to future travel. Negative consequences resulting from travel were frequent. Targeted distribution of resources (e.g. CARE phones) should be considered for future programs.
authors.affiliation: CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: Andrew.Hennenfent@dc.gov.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hennenfent
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dassie
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zamore
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davies-Cole
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Department of Health, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Johnson-Clarke
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004219:District of Columbia; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel
keywords: Airport enhanced entry screening; Check and Report Ebola (CARE) phone; United States Ebola virus disease Active Monitoring Program