ABSTRACT
Risk assessment and risk management are fundamental to travel health consultations. Undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment involves gathering information on the traveller and their proposed journey. This information, as well as identifying specific travel-related hazards, should ensure risk-management advice and strategies are appropriate for individuals. This article outlines the principles of risk assessment and risk management in the context of travel health consultations.
Subject(s)
Risk Management/methods , Specialties, Nursing/methods , Travel Medicine/methods , Travel , Humans , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The aim of an effective travel health consultation is to provide advice that is tailored to the individual traveller; this is particularly the case when advising travellers with special health needs. This article discusses the general principles of identifying travellers with special risks and tailoring travel health advice accordingly. This is the second in a three-part series looking at the principles of travel health.
Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control/methods , Risk Management/methods , Specialties, Nursing/methods , Travel Medicine/methods , Travel , Chronic Disease , Humans , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk Factors , VaccinationABSTRACT
Malaria is a common, potentially fatal infection found in more than 100 countries. Nurses play an important role in advising travellers about the risk of malaria, methods of prevention and in recognising the disease in returning travellers. This article provides an overview and outlines key areas of knowledge that are essential for nurses involved in giving pre- and post-travel malaria advice.
Subject(s)
Malaria/prevention & control , Travel , Animals , Antimalarials/administration & dosage , Awareness , Culicidae , Humans , Insect Vectors , Malaria/diagnosis , Malaria/transmission , Nurse-Patient Relations , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
International travel has become more accessible and affordable, and travel, particularly to tropical and malaria regions, has increased by up to 8% annually. This change in travel has surprisingly not resulted in an increase in imported diseases. Surveillance reports of hepatitis A and enteric fever have not increased and a significant and sustained fall in malaria over the decade has been described. Nurses in primary care are the predominant providers of pre-travel health services and they have an important and influential role in preventing travel-associated illness. This is the second article in a 3-part series on the spectrum of health issues associated with travel. Part one discussed pre-travel health advice, including risk assessment and educating travellers. This article explores the highest risk group of traveller, those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). The article highlights the specific disease risks for VFRs and how these may be influenced by their health beliefs. The article explores ways in which nurses can optimize the travel health consultation to ensure that the specific needs ofVFRs are met and that they receive accurate and achievable advice.
