Pilot use of a novel smartphone application to track traveller health behavior and collect infectious disease data during a mass gathering: Hajj pilgrimage 2014

ABSTRACT

This study examines the feasibility of using a smartphone application [app] to conduct surveys among travellers during the Hajj pilgrimage, where the use of apps has not been evaluated for infectious disease surveillance. A longitudinal study was conducted among pilgrims at the Hajj 2014 using an iPhone app with separate questionnaires for three study phases covering before, during, and after Hajj. Forty-eight pilgrims from 13 countries downloaded the app. Respondents were aged between 21 and 61 [median 36] years and 58.5% [24/41] were male. Of these, 85% [41/48] completed the first phase, 52% [25/41] completed both the second and third phases, and 25 of these reported meningococcal vaccination, with 36% [9/25] receiving other vaccines. All [25] reported hand hygiene use and 64% [16/25] wore a facemask at some point during the pilgrimage. Four [6%] reported close contact with camels. Respiratory symptoms commenced from the 4th day of Hajj, with sore throat [20%] and cough [12%] being the most common. Three participants [12%] reported respiratory symptoms after returning home. Conducting a prospective survey using a smartphone app to collect data on travel-associated infections and traveler compliance to prevention is feasible at mass gatherings and can provide useful data associated with health-related behaviour