Genton B, Behrens RH
Travel Clinic, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.
J Travel Med. 1994 Mar 1;1(1):8-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.1994.tb00549.x.
Studies have shown that more than one third of all travelers to tropical countries experience an illness while abroad. Naiveté about diseases, such as malaria, travelers' diarrhea, cholera, and HIV infections, appears to be the most crucial factor determining travel-related morbidity rates. A study was designed both to evaluate the level of disease-related, pretravel knowledge prior to a specialized travel clinic consultation as well as to correlate the level of knowledge with demographic and travel variables and previous travel experience. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected from 167 clients who attended the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic, London, England, in June 1991. The questionnaire evaluated clients' knowledge and attitudes of travel-related diseases, their prevention and treatment, and the scores were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System software, Version 5. Predictors for increased knowledge scores were examined by a one-way layout model comparing disease knowledge scores with variables such as sex, age, socioeconomic class, ethnic background, previous travel experience, type and duration of travel, destination, accommodation quality, and health insurance coverage. A step-down regression model was constructed to control for the effects of the many mutually confounding factors. Travelers' diarrhea and malaria risk at destination were acknowledged by more than 85% of the respondents, and 60% of the questions on travelers' diarrhea prevention, compared to 81% of those on malaria prevention, were answered correctly. Significantly, however, only one half of the respondents indicated that they would take appropriate measures concerning diarrhea while abroad. Stepwise regression identified previous travel experience, pretravel advice, traveling for work purposes, and using backpack overland tours as significant predictors of high knowledge. This study points out the necessity of pretravel education and that it should focus not only on malaria but also on other travel-related diseases like travelers' diarrhea. As well, target groups for whom more detailed information should be provided are identified, including inexperienced travelers, those using organized tours and sleeping indoors, those planning to visit friends or relatives, and those who have not received sufficient pretravel health advice.
研究表明，前往热带国家的旅行者中，超过三分之一的人在国外期间会患病。对疟疾、旅行者腹泻、霍乱和艾滋病毒感染等疾病缺乏了解，似乎是决定与旅行相关发病率的最关键因素。一项研究旨在评估在专门的旅行诊所咨询之前与疾病相关的旅行前知识水平，并将知识水平与人口统计学和旅行变量以及以往的旅行经历相关联。使用一份自填式问卷，从1991年6月前往英国伦敦热带病医院旅行诊所就诊的167名客户那里收集了数据。该问卷评估了客户对与旅行相关疾病及其预防和治疗的知识和态度，并使用统计分析系统软件版本5对分数进行了分析。通过单向布局模型将疾病知识分数与性别、年龄、社会经济阶层、种族背景、以往旅行经历、旅行类型和持续时间、目的地、住宿质量和医疗保险覆盖范围等变量进行比较，以检验知识分数增加的预测因素。构建了一个逐步回归模型来控制众多相互混杂因素的影响。超过85%的受访者知晓目的地的旅行者腹泻和疟疾风险，关于旅行者腹泻预防的问题中60%回答正确，相比之下，疟疾预防问题的回答正确率为81%。然而，值得注意的是，只有一半的受访者表示他们在国外时会针对腹泻采取适当措施。逐步回归确定以往的旅行经历、旅行前的建议、因公旅行以及使用背包进行陆路旅行是知识水平高的重要预测因素。这项研究指出了旅行前教育的必要性，并且旅行前教育不仅应关注疟疾，还应关注其他与旅行相关的疾病，如旅行者腹泻。此外，还确定了应提供更详细信息的目标群体，包括没有经验的旅行者、使用有组织旅行团并在室内住宿的人、计划探访朋友或亲戚的人以及那些没有得到足够旅行前健康建议的人。
