Knowledge, attitudes, practices and vaccine acceptance towards seasonal influenza vaccination among international travelers: a cross-sectional survey in Thailand
{"title":"Knowledge, attitudes, practices and vaccine acceptance towards seasonal influenza vaccination among international travelers: a cross-sectional survey in Thailand","authors":"Pathomthep Leowattana , Viravarn Luvira , Noppadon Tangpukdee , Panita Looareesuwan , Tanaya Siripoon , Thundon Ngamprasertchai , Suparat Phuanukoonnon , Pornthep Chanthavanich","doi":"10.1016/j.tmaid.2025.102863","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Influenza is a common but preventable disease. International travelers encounter significant risks in contracting influenza.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted on international travelers while visiting the Thai Travel Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok, Thailand.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From May to November 2024, 250 Thai and 229 non-Thai international travelers were enrolled. Most participants reported sufficient knowledge about influenza, with 86.4 % achieving a score of ≥60 % while expressing mild concern of infection [mean perceived risk score of 3.1 ± 2.4 (range from 0 to 10)]. When regarding preventive measures, 72.2 % reported regular hand hygiene, while only 19.4 % regularly wore masks in public. Influenza vaccine acceptance was 38.2 %. The most influential reason for vaccination was healthcare personnel's advice. In the multivariable analysis, the independent factors which affected vaccine acceptance were travelers' nationality, age, purpose of travel, destination country, and perceived risk score.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>International travelers had sufficient influenza knowledge but low awareness relating to influenza prevention methods and influenza vaccinations. Low vaccine acceptance rates were observed among international travelers. Travel consultations should focus on influenza awareness while traveling and associated preventative measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23312,"journal":{"name":"Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article 102863"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893925000699","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Influenza is a common but preventable disease. International travelers encounter significant risks in contracting influenza.
Methods
The cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted on international travelers while visiting the Thai Travel Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok, Thailand.
Results
From May to November 2024, 250 Thai and 229 non-Thai international travelers were enrolled. Most participants reported sufficient knowledge about influenza, with 86.4 % achieving a score of ≥60 % while expressing mild concern of infection [mean perceived risk score of 3.1 ± 2.4 (range from 0 to 10)]. When regarding preventive measures, 72.2 % reported regular hand hygiene, while only 19.4 % regularly wore masks in public. Influenza vaccine acceptance was 38.2 %. The most influential reason for vaccination was healthcare personnel's advice. In the multivariable analysis, the independent factors which affected vaccine acceptance were travelers' nationality, age, purpose of travel, destination country, and perceived risk score.
Conclusion
International travelers had sufficient influenza knowledge but low awareness relating to influenza prevention methods and influenza vaccinations. Low vaccine acceptance rates were observed among international travelers. Travel consultations should focus on influenza awareness while traveling and associated preventative measures.
期刊介绍:
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Publication Scope:
Publishes original papers, reviews, and consensus papers
Primary theme: infectious disease in the context of travel medicine
Focus Areas:
Epidemiology and surveillance of travel-related illness
Prevention and treatment of travel-associated infections
Malaria prevention and treatment
Travellers' diarrhoea
Infections associated with mass gatherings
Migration-related infections
Vaccines and vaccine-preventable disease
Global policy/regulations for disease prevention and control
Practical clinical issues for travel and tropical medicine practitioners
Coverage:
Addresses areas of controversy and debate in travel medicine
Aims to inform guidelines and policy pertinent to travel medicine and the prevention of infectious disease
Publication Features:
Offers a fast peer-review process
Provides early online publication of accepted manuscripts
Aims to publish cutting-edge papers