The increase in international travel from the United States, especially by high risk travelers, and the concern about new and re-emerging infectious diseases and their spread by global migration makes it imperative that better methods are sought to reduce travel-related illness.
The aims of this project are to define the types of travelers seen for pre-travel advice and characterize groups of high risk travelers;to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of both travelers and health care professionals that provide them with advice;and to design ways in which travel clinic visits can be used to enhance routine adult health care, such as by increasing rates of immunization against influenza and other diseases. Study protocols to address these aims will be developed by members of the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network and other Travel Medicine Research Centers and CDC, and the study population will be travelers seen in the travel clinics and in the surrounding geographic area by both the travel medicine providers and by primary care practitioners in the area. The data generated by the project will be used to develop strategies and interventions to reduce travel related illness, especially for high risk travelers, and to use the opportunity of the travel clinic visit to enhance overall health. The increase in international travel from the United States, especially by high risk travelers, and the concern about new and re-emerging infectious diseases and their spread by global migration, makes it imperative that better methods are sought to reduce travel-related illness.
The aims of this project are to study large groups of travelers, especially those who are high risk. The data from these studies will be used to develop strategies and interventions to reduce travel related illness, especially for high risk travelers, and to use the opportunity of the travel clinic visit to enhance overall health.

Public Health Relevance

The increase in international travel from the United States, especially by high risk travelers, and the concern about new and re-emerging infectious diseases and their spread by global migration, makes it imperative that better methods are sought to reduce travel-related illness. The aims of this project are to study large groups of travelers, especially those who are high risk. The data from these studies will be used to develop strategies and interventions to reduce travel related illness, especially for high risk travelers, and to use the opportunity of the travel clinic visit to enhance overall health.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Infectious Diseases (CID)
Type
Research Program--Cooperative Agreements (U19)
Project #
3U19CI000508-03S1
Application #
8144613
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCI1-TYM (14))
Program Officer
Hopkins, Andrew S
Project Start
2007-09-30
Project End
2011-09-29
Budget Start
2009-09-30
Budget End
2011-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$327,892
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
005492160
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Hamer, Davidson H; MacLeod, William B; Chen, Lin H et al. (2017) Pretravel Health Preparation of International Travelers: Results From the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 1:78-90
Stoney, Rhett J; Han, Pauline V; Barnett, Elizabeth D et al. (2017) Travelers' Diarrhea and Other Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Boston-Area International Travelers. Am J Trop Med Hyg 96:1388-1393
Stoney, Rhett J; Chen, Lin H; Jentes, Emily S et al. (2016) Malaria Prevention Strategies: Adherence Among Boston Area Travelers Visiting Malaria-Endemic Countries. Am J Trop Med Hyg 94:136-42
Lown, Beth A; Chen, Lin H; Han, Pauline V et al. (2014) Preferences and decision needs of Boston-area travelers to countries with risk of Yellow fever virus transmission: implications for health care providers. J Travel Med 21:266-71
Kogelman, Laura; Barnett, Elizabeth D; Chen, Lin H et al. (2014) Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of US practitioners who provide pre-travel advice. J Travel Med 21:104-14
Iliaki, Eirini; Chen, Lin H; Hamer, Davidson H et al. (2014) Travel to Brazil: analysis of data from the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network (BATMN) and relevance to travelers attending world cup and olympics. J Travel Med 21:214-7
Sanchez-Vegas, Carolina; Hamer, Davidson H; Chen, Lin H et al. (2013) Prevalence of dengue virus infection in US travelers who have lived in or traveled to dengue-endemic countries. J Travel Med 20:352-60
Chen, Lin H; Barnett, Elizabeth D; Wilson, Mary E et al. (2013) Hepatitis B screening in US travelers seen at the Boston area travel medicine network. J Travel Med 20:29-36
Benoit, Christine M; MacLeod, William B; Hamer, Davidson H et al. (2013) Acceptability of hypothetical dengue vaccines among travelers. J Travel Med 20:346-51
Lown, Beth A; Chen, Lin H; Wilson, Mary E et al. (2012) Vaccine administration decision making: the case of yellow fever vaccine. Clin Infect Dis 55:837-43