Travel-related mosquito-transmitted disease questionnaire survey among health professionals in Taiwan
Journal
Journal of Travel Medicine
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
1
Pages
34-38
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Background. Health-care professionals can help travelers by providing accurate pre-travel counseling for mosquito-transmitted diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Governments and international organizations will benefit from knowledge survey among health professionals in this field to promote the development of travel health profession. This study investigates physicians' and nurses' knowledge regarding malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Methods. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was distributed to physicians and nurses in Taiwan interested in travel medicine between April and September of 2008. The self-administered, single-choice questionnaire evaluated knowledge regarding epidemiology, prophylactic medication for malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever, and vaccinations for yellow fever as well as background information of participants. Results. Complete information was collected from 82 physicians and 203 nurses. (Out of 289, effective response rate = 99.9%). The mean percentage of accurate responses was similar for all three diseases: malaria 67.3% (range, 16.8%-90.5%); yellow fever 65.4% (39.6%-79.3%); and dengue fever 74.4% (14.4%-96.5%). The items with the lowest accuracy were (1) behavior of the dengue fever vector Aedes aegypti mosquito (14.4%) and (2) incubation period of malaria (16.8%). There were 60.4% participants who did not know the current revaccination interval for the yellow fever vaccine. The average knowledge scores for all three diseases were statistically significantly higher in the physician group. Conclusions. Analysis of the results revealed significant deficits in travel medicine knowledge among health-care providers. Emphasis on continuing medical education for disease vector behavior, prophylactic drug prescription, and preventative vaccination is important to travel safety. Health professionals in Taiwan should actively participate in the International Society of Travel Medicine to follow the international standard of travel medicine practitioners. This type of survey should be adopted in other countries which would be helpful in improving the quality of care for travelers. ? 2010 International Society of Travel Medicine.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Aedes aegypti; article; controlled study; crossover procedure; dengue; human; incubation time; knowledge; major clinical study; malaria; nonhuman; nurse; physician; questionnaire; Taiwan; travel related mosquito transmitted disease questionnaire survey; vaccination; yellow fever; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Communicable Disease Control; Counseling; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Middle Aged; Mosquito Control; Questionnaires; Taiwan; Travel; Young Adult
Type
journal article