Healthcare seeking during travel: an analysis by the GeoSentinel surveillance network of travel medicine providers
8
Issued Date
2023-05-18
Resource Type
eISSN
17088305
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85159758851
Pubmed ID
36637429
Journal Title
Journal of travel medicine
Volume
30
Issue
3
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of travel medicine Vol.30 No.3 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Piyaphanee W., Stoney R.J., Asgeirsson H., Appiah G.D., Díaz-Endez M., Barnett E.D., Gautret P., Libman M., Schlagenhauf P., Leder K., Plewes K., Grobusch M.P., Huits R., Mavunda K., Hamer D.H., Chen L.H. Healthcare seeking during travel: an analysis by the GeoSentinel surveillance network of travel medicine providers. Journal of travel medicine Vol.30 No.3 (2023). doi:10.1093/jtm/taad002 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82884
Title
Healthcare seeking during travel: an analysis by the GeoSentinel surveillance network of travel medicine providers
Author's Affiliation
Vecteurs – Infections Tropicales et Méditeranéennes
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria
McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Mount Auburn Hospital
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Monash University
Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset
School of Public Health
Universität Zürich
The University of British Columbia
Boston Medical Center
Amsterdam UMC - University of Amsterdam
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University
Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria
McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Mount Auburn Hospital
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Monash University
Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset
School of Public Health
Universität Zürich
The University of British Columbia
Boston Medical Center
Amsterdam UMC - University of Amsterdam
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: International travellers may seek care abroad to address health problems that arise during their trip or plan healthcare outside their country of residence as medical tourists. METHODS: Data were collected on travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel Network sites who reported healthcare during travel. Both unplanned and planned healthcare were analysed, including the reason and nature of healthcare sought, characteristics of the treatment provided and outcomes. Travellers that presented for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis were described elsewhere and were excluded from detailed analysis. RESULTS: From May 2017 through June 2020, after excluding travellers obtaining rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (n= 415), 1093 travellers reported care for a medical or dental issue that was an unanticipated part of the travellers' planned itinerary (unplanned healthcare). Travellers who sought unplanned healthcare abroad had frequent diagnoses of acute diarrhoea, dengue, falciparum malaria and unspecified viral syndrome, and obtained care in 131 countries. Thirty-four (3%) reported subsequent deterioration and 230 (21%) reported no change in condition; a third (n = 405; 37%) had a pre-travel health encounter. Forty-one travellers had sufficient data on planned healthcare abroad for analysis. The most common destinations were the US, France, Dominican Republic, Belgium and Mexico. The top reasons for their planned healthcare abroad were unavailability of procedure at home (n = 9; 19%), expertise abroad (n = 9; 19%), lower cost (n = 8; 17%) and convenience (n = 7; 15%); a third (n = 13; 32%) reported cosmetic or surgical procedures. Early and late complications occurred in 14 (33%) and 4 (10%) travellers, respectively. Four travellers (10%) had a pre-travel health encounter. CONCLUSIONS: International travellers encounter health problems during travel that often could be prevented by pre-travel consultation. Travellers obtaining planned healthcare abroad can experience negative health consequences associated with treatments abroad, for which pre-travel consultations could provide advice and potentially help to prevent complications.