Background
As the number of Australians engaging in short term international travel increases, so does the opportunity for importing overseas-acquired infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine knowledge of infectious disease risks and pre-travel health advice (PTHA) seeking behaviour among Western Australians travelling to Bali, Indonesia or Thailand.
Methods
Passengers departing from Perth International Airport were invited to participate in a self-administered, anonymous survey. The survey queried if, and where, travellers sought PTHA, their knowledge of specific disease risks, and plans for practicing disease prevention behaviours while abroad. Adjusted, multivariate regression modelling was used to assess demographic and travel-related factors associated with seeking PTHA.
Results
A total of 1,560 travellers were invited to participate; 102 (7%) refused, 61 (4%) were not WA residents, and 63 (4%) incorrectly completed the survey, leaving responses from 1,334 travellers for analysis (1,091 destined for Bali and 243 Thailand). The proportion correctly identifying specific overseas disease risks ranged from 27% for potential exposure to measles to >80% for dengue and rabies-related exposures. High levels of planned disease preventive behaviours were reported, with 82% and 70% of travellers intending to use insect repellent and hand sanitiser, respectively; however, only 25% reviewed their immunisation history prior to travelling. Overall, 32% (430) of respondents reported seeking PTHA for their trip, most commonly from friends/family (15%) or a general practitioner (14%). The majority (87%) of travellers bought airline tickets and/or accommodation online, but few (8%) used the internet to source PTHA.
Conclusions
WA travellers to Bali and Thailand were unlikely to seek pre-travel health advice and demonstrated variable levels of knowledge regarding infectious disease risks associated with travel to these destinations. High rates of internet use when planning travel may provide an opportunity for promoting destination-specific risk reduction messaging and should be explored.