Travel preparation and health risks in Dutch and Belgian medical students during an elective in low- or middle-income countries: A prospective self-reporting cohort study
| Autor: | Anastassia I. Blanter, Darius Soonawala, Leonardus G Visser, Evelien Hack, Jessica A. Vlot, Emile F.F. Jonker, N. S. Korse |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Diarrhea
medicine.medical_specialty Tuberculosis Students Medical Travelers' diarrhea education 030231 tropical medicine Unprotected sex Minor (academic) Cohort Studies 03 medical and health sciences South Africa 0302 clinical medicine Belgium Surveys and Questionnaires Culture shock Medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Prospective Studies Developing Countries Travel business.industry Incidence (epidemiology) Middle income countries Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Post-travel bowel complaints medicine.disease Malaria Infectious Diseases Family medicine Chemoprophylaxis Needle-stick injury business Travel-Related Illness Cohort study |
| Zdroj: | Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 37. ELSEVIER SCI LTD |
| ISSN: | 1873-0442 |
| Popis: | Background Medical schools offer students the opportunity to perform international electives. This study aimed to assess health risks among medical students, to tailor institutional guidelines. Methods Multicenter study at Dutch and Belgian universities, among medical students who visited low- or middle-income countries. Students completed four questionnaires: once before the elective and two weeks, three- and six months after return. Results Data was complete for 479 students (follow-up rate 84%). Most traveled to Surinam (29%) and South-Africa (14%). Half of the students encountered difficulties in adapting to local culture. Almost 40% visited malaria endemic countries. Nearly all (87%) used chemoprophylaxis as prescribed. Definite needle-stick or splash injuries were reported by 7%. All were dealt with adequately in accordance with national guidelines. However, less than half of 24 possible incidents were handled adequately. Two-and-a-half percent had unprotected sex with a new partner. The incidence of travelers’ diarrhea (TD) was 46%. In those with TD, the incidence of post-travel new-onset abdominal complaints was 3%. Three percent were involved in a minor traffic accident, 18% were injured during leisure activities, 5% were threatened or experienced physical violence. Only half of the students visiting a highly endemic country were screened for tuberculosis post-travel. For schistosomiasis this was 6%. Conclusions Students abroad are exposed to medical and non-medical challenges, which should be addressed during pre-travel counseling. Contact details of a professional back home should be provided, so students can confer in case of problems while abroad. Lastly, we recommend a centrally organized post-travel health check. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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