Business Travelers' Risk Perception of Infectious Diseases: Where Are the Knowledge Gaps, and How Serious Are They?

Abstract

More accurate knowledge among FBT seeking company health advice demonstrates that access to in-company travel clinics can improve risk perception. However, there is an obvious need for risk knowledge improvement, given the overall underestimation of risk. The substantial overestimation of HIV risk is probably due to both public and in-company awareness efforts. Conversely, typhoid risk overestimation was statistically associated with seeking company health advice, and therefore specifically reflects the high focus on typhoid fever within Shell's travel clinic. This study serves as a reminder that a knowledge gap toward infectious diseases besides malaria still exists. Our article will explore the future requirements for more targeted education and research among FBT in companies worldwide.

Vaccination and malaria prophylaxis among Greek international travelers to Asian destinations

“…The results of this survey suggest that the rate of malaria prophylaxis was below the expected rate, particularly among special groups, such as those traveling to VFRs and business travelers. These findings might be attributable to a lack of awareness about the risks of the disease among the travelers [26,[32][33][34][35][36].…”

Methodologies for measuring travelers' risk perception of infectious diseases: A systematic review

“…Sample sizes ranged from 119 to 6633 participants. A total of 23 studies were conducted among the general population of travelers [8,12,15e17,20,22e25,28e33,35e39,41e44]; other studies were conducted among specific populations of travelers, including Hajj pilgrims (n Z 6) [6,7,9,11,14,24], business travelers (n Z 3) [13,21,40], students (n Z 2) [19,27], missionary personnel and their families (n Z 1) [45], ethnic Africans visiting their country of origin (n Z 1) [34], backpackers (n Z 1) [26], airline crews (n Z 1) [18] and public health professionals (n Z 1) [10].…”

“…Thirteen studies included travelers recruited at travel clinics when seeking travel advice [7,9e12,14,23,24,28,29,34,40,42] in Europe [7,11,12,14,23,24,28,34,40], Australia [9], US [10], Canada [42] and Asia [29]. Travelers were also recruited through travel agencies (n Z 5) [7,25,29,30,34] in Europe [7,25,34] and Asia [29,30], business corporations in Europe (n Z 2) [13,21], universities (n Z 2) in Australia [19] and the US [27], a commercial airline in the US (n Z 1) [18], a Japanese embassy in Africa (n Z 1) [29], post-Hajj seminars or social gatherings or randomized trials in Australia (n Z 1) [6]; one study was conducted among foreign backpackers recruited in the Khao San Road area, Bangkok, Thailand [26] and another among missionary personnel and their families stationed abroad (n Z 1) [45]. Some studies combined several sources of recruitment [7,29,34].…”

“…In 35 of 39 studies, the methodology used was that of the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey [6e11,13e24,26,28e41,43e45]. Of the 35 KAP surveys, 34 used a cross-sectional design with self-administered questionnaires (n Z 26) [6,8e10,13,15e23,26,29e31,33,35e37, 39e41,43e45], four of which were web-based [13,18,19,21], or face-to-face questionnaires (n Z 7) [7,11,14,24,28,32,38]. One KAP survey was a prospective cohort survey using face-to-face and telephone questionnaires [34].…”

Acquisition of extended spectrum β-lactamases during travel abroad—A qualitative study among Swedish travellers examining their knowledge, risk assessment, and behaviour

“…Our results were not similar to the study by Aro et al The average age of our study group was 55 years and the group included both holiday and business travellers. Wynberg et al (2013) stated that knowledge could affect risk assessment and behaviour and that professional pre-travel health advice could improve the travellers’ risk perception (Wynberg et al, 2013). In general, the travellers in our study underestimated the risk of getting an infectious disease.…”