International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Is Melioidosis a One Health-Neglected Disease in Iran?","authors":"Z. Baradaran-Seyed","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.16","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.16","url":null,"abstract":"According to the several scientific resources, Iran is considered to be among the melioidosis-endemic regions of the world; this is in stark contrast to the domestic stance in Iran, where the risk of melioidosis is speculated only as an emerging infectious disease in a non-endemic area. Recently, we have had devastating flash floods in the most provinces of Iran; the changing of soil structure may facilitate the cultivation of bacteria in the upper layers of the ground, consequently causes exposure and re-emergence of the disease. Considering previous isolation and identification of Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia Pseudomallei, and Burkholderia cepacia complex from human, animal, and environment samples in Iran, it is urgently necessary to upgrade and equip infrastructures to identify and distinguish between pathogenic Burkholderia and commensals in the context of the One Health surveillance system. In the present perspective, the history of melioidosis in the country is presented to attract attention to the negligence of disease over the last four decades.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"93-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44297232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathogenesis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Respiratory Infection","authors":"A. S. Olagunju, I. Oladapo, S. O. Kosemani, F. Olorunfemi, Adesewa Sukurat Adeyemo","doi":"10.34172/IJTMGH.2020.24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/IJTMGH.2020.24","url":null,"abstract":"With the occurrence of a mysterious pneumonia in the Hubei province (Wuhan) of China in December 2019, a different coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has commanded global awareness and has been named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern. Two other coronavirus infections (SARS and MERS) were also characterized by severe respiratory distress in 2002-2003. In addition to the new coronavirus, the emerging infectious diseases resulting in universal spread are caused by the β-coronavirus strains. Even though coronaviruses typically target the upper and/or lower respiratory tract, viral shedding into the plasma or serum is frequent, and the human coronavirus (CoV) represents 15%–30% of respiratory syndromes, including common colds. Based on a recent hypothesis, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to induce lung injury by inhibiting the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and could possibly attack organs with high expression. With the lack of a vaccine or major treatment for the disease, palliative care is provided for individuals already infected with the virus. The aim of this review is to discuss the influence and relationship of the coronavirus, particularly SARS-CoV-2, on the respiratory system with a proposed mechanism of action in lung injury and pathogenesis.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"137-145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43817731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fear and Panic of COVID-19","authors":"S. Saadat, M. Izadi, N. J. Jafari, H. Abolghasemi, Saeedreza Jamalimoghadamsiyahkali, A. Jamalian, S. Fathi, B. Einollahi, A. Ghazale, Ramezan Jafari, M. Mesri, M. Ebrahimi, M. Asadi, A. Ghadian, Z. Rostami, E. Nemati, H. Nikoueinejad, Bentolhoda Beyram, Seyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaei, S. Imanizadeh, Milad Nafari, M. Javanbakht","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.15","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.15","url":null,"abstract":"media war in which “fear” is highlighted rather than discussions about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite all the current data, little is known about the real figures of COVID-19, and ignorance breeds fear all over the world, particularly in Iran. While media images are rapidly circulating and COVID-19 has become propaganda in many regions due to coronavirus rumors, one fear is in the public mind about mortality rates reported elsewhere.1,2 In the face of emergencies, a more interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial approach is of great importance for curtailing COVID-19 outbreak, which would, in turn, lead to a minimization of the damage. Transparency in reports and actions is also very important.3 The concept of health communication is of great importance. Now, in addition to trying to send scientific exchanges by traditional venues (e.g., journals and conferences), it must be explained to the public what really happened or is happening in public language (jargon and insider language) instead of scientific terminology, providing opportunities for engaging public audiences without customization. In other words, it is important to get a real perspective of the disease, such as initial estimates of epidemiological parameters, risk of acquiring infection, human-to-human transmission, and epidemic forecasts by considering what the public is hearing and practicing health communication. To a non-specialist, most specific terms in scientific language are not clear. Therefore, mass media can be targeted by representatives using a science communication approach and problem-based learning sessions, where a synergistic collaboration of multiple disciplines can be considered under the terms of One Health by human and animal health agencies, national organizations’ downstream sectors, and scientific societies to underpin public health awareness based on reliable information. Efforts at communicating information about infectious diseases should consider media outreach and community meetings. Moreover, an increased shift in special media sources in many parts of the world, including Internet use (e.g., websites), social media (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.), and Internet contacts can be of great importance for community engagement strategies based on infectious disease communication; other sources of health information, such as text alerts, artistic brochure design, and apps, are also easy strategies in this regard. Of course, the credibility of a source http://ijtmgh.com Int J Travel Med Glob Health. 2020 Aug;8(3):91-92 doi 10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.15 TMGH IInternational Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health J","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"91-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42064500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using AHP to Prioritize Barriers in Developing Medical Tourism: Case of Turkey","authors":"Doğancan Çavmak, Şeyda Çavmak","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.12","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: In the globalizing world; the concept of medical tourism comes to the fore with the increase in travel freedoms between countries, easier transportation facilities, and the increased quality of healthcare services in different countries. This study aims to examine the barriers to developing medical tourism and prioritize the factors to give an insight on where to allocate resources in the scope of a conceptual framework on medical tourism. Methods: Barriers to medical tourism in Turkey were identified based on the literature and experts’ opinions. As a result of the expert opinions, 23 factors were identified and grouped under five main categories. The analytical hierarchy process method was used to prioritize the factors. A pair-wise comparison form was prepared by the researcher and sent to experts. The data obtained from these forms was analyzed and weights were calculated. Results: The factors were ranked from most important to least important as follows: negative corporate image (w=0.319), quality of healthcare (w=0.198), incompatible regulations/law (w=0.177), human resources (w=0.163), and underdeveloped infrastructure (w=0.142). Conclusion: It was determined that the development of medical tourism is not sufficient, despite the great potential of Turkey in terms of technological healthcare services and attractiveness of tourism destinations. Major attempts should be made in marketing to attract medical tourists.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44925836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Affecting Destination Choice in Medical Tourism","authors":"Haşim Çapar, Ö. Aslan","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.13","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Introduction: Although many factors can affect the choice of destination in medical tourism, some factors are indispensable to medical tourists and medical tourism. The aim of this study was to analyze important factors affecting the selection of a destination by potential medical tourists. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted in Turkey, included a population of 1700 people and a sample size of 317 people selected through purposive sampling. Values were evaluated with a 95% confidence interval and 0.05 standard error. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The medical tourism scale and a demographic information form were used in data collection. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and path analysis were used as statistical methods. Analyses were made using IBM SPSS-AMOS 25.0. Results: In this study, 56.5% of the participants were male and 43.5% were female. The factors affecting the selection of medical tourism destinations were determined to be, in order of importance, accessibility of health care service (X̄ = 4.68 ± 1.073), level of security and safety (X̄ = 4:57 ± 1.122), quality of health care service (X̄ = 4:39 ± 1.129), level of hygiene (X̄ = 4.16 ± 1.381), potential of savings-low cost (X̄ = 4.07 ± 1.447), and tourism opportunities (X̄ = 4.02 ± 1.540). Conclusion: It is thought that the current study will make a serious contribution to the field of medical tourism both in practice and in theory.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41596117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"I Was Scared I Might Die Alone\": A Qualitative Study on the Physiological and Psychological Experience of COVID-19 Survivors and the Quality of Care Received at Health Facilities","authors":"I. Olufadewa, M. Adesina, B. Oladokun, A. Baru, R. Oladele, T. Iyanda, Oluwatosin Joseph Ajibade, Funmilayo Abudu","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.09","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.09","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Although several coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) studies have focused on the biomedical and epidemiological manifestations of the COVID-19 virus, there is a dearth of studies that have reported the experiences of COVID-19 survivors. This study investigated the physiological and psychological experiences of COVID-19 survivors and the quality of care that they received during their recovery processes. Methods: A phenomenological approach and a purposive sampling technique were employed to select eligible participants whose reported interviews/videos were published on reputable online media channels. The selection processes involved three researchers who had independently searched and assessed the interviews and their sources; for veracity, availability of vital information to meet the study objectives, and to ensure it followed the inclusion criteria. Video interviews were transcribed and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Thirty-nine participants (COVID-19 survivors) within the age range of 20-95 from over 15 countries and 5 continents were included in this study. Clinical symptoms commonly reported included feeling feverish, severe, persistent and dry cough, difficulty in breathing, cold, body pains, and aches. Many participants had negative mental health experiences such as being scared, anxious, guilty feelings, and worrying about their recovery. Few participants had positive mental health experiences such as the feeling of encouragement from family and trusted friends. Many participants were satisfied with the quality of care at health centers, though some experienced early difficulty in getting tested. Conclusion: There are psychological impacts associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Psychological interventions should be included in the management of COVID-19 patients and survivors.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"51-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41938177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examination of Emergency Medicine Physicians’ and Residents’ Twitter Activities During the First Days of the COVID-19 Outbreak","authors":"M. Boğan, M. Karadağ, Fatma Boğan","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.08","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.08","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Social media has become an important element of interaction and found itself a place in every aspect of our lives. This study examined the twitter activities of emergency medicine physicians and residents (EMP&R) about the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: The study concentrated on Twitter, a major social media network. To identify accounts owned by EMP&R, followers of the official accounts of two emergency medicine physician associations in our country were reviewed. Results: In total, 251 accounts whose owners stated they were EMP&R in their biographies, were public, and had tweeted within the last year were identified. Among the 210 tweets posted about coronavirus, 42.4% contained comments and suggestions, 18.6% institutional announcements, 17.1% news, 14.8% scientific content, and 7.1% contained humor. Conclusion: This study examined the importance of Twitter posts during outbreaks and the attitudes of emergency medicine doctors on this issue. Based on the results, it is thought that EMP&R should share more.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"46-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48636723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness and Practice of Pre-travel Vaccination Among International Travelers Departing from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport","authors":"O. Jegede, A. Ali, W. Ayele","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.10","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: International travelers are exposed to health risks and may transmit infections before, during, or after travel. Travelers are expected to take vaccinations prior to travel. The current study assessed the factors associated with the practice of pre-travel vaccination among travelers departing through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport after their stay in Ethiopia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 670 international travelers. A multistage sampling technique was used to ensure the representativeness of travel destinations. Awareness and practice of pre-travel vaccination were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire distributed at the departure lounges of the airport. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant factors (at P < 0.05) associated with pre-travel vaccination status. Median age was reported with its interquartile range (IQR). Results: A total of 639 questionnaires were analyzed given a response rate of 95.4%. The median age of participants was 34 years (IQR 28-41). Five hundred and eighty travelers (90.8%) were aware of pre-travel vaccinations, 531 (83.1%) took vaccinations, and 185 (29.0%) had their vaccination cards checked upon arrival in Ethiopia. The vaccination rate of the three recommended vaccines for all travelers were yellow fever (72.5%); diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) (21.4%); and influenza (10.8%). Age, marital status, religion, and having vaccination cards checked on previous trips were associated with vaccination status at P values of 0.047, 0.035, <0.001, and 0.002, respectively. Conclusion: The uptake of recommended vaccinations for all travelers, especially DPT and influenza was low. It is pertinent for border health staff to scale up vaccination card inspection at points of entry.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"58-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43137821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unravelling the Pathogenesis of Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: Are There Possible Insights From High Altitude?","authors":"G. Flaherty, P. Hession","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.14","url":null,"abstract":"The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to exact a heavy toll on human lives, fragile healthcare systems and international travel. Following its initial rapid spread via international travel routes,1 sustained community transmission is now the major route of infection worldwide. High rates of severe pneumonia requiring prolonged ventilation, pre-symptomatic viral shedding and a disproportionate burden of mortality in older populations, are among the most challenging features of this novel coronavirus infection. A clearer profile of the clinical evolution of the disease is beginning to emerge. Gaps in our understanding of its pathogenesis compromise efforts to deliver targeted therapies to the most severely ill patients, however. The authors have, between them, managed critically ill patients with COVID-19 disease and high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE). Arguments have recently been advanced in the medical literature to suggest that COVID-19 lung injury may share a common pathophysiology with HAPE2 and, indeed, intriguing similarities do exist in their clinical presentation. Here we explore the points of comparison and contrast between these discrete conditions. HAPE was regarded historically by Andean residents as the “pneumonia of the mountains”.3 Symptoms of HAPE and COVID-19 overlap, with an initial dry cough, fever, dyspnoea and chest tightness. Also more common in males, severely affected HAPE patients are typically tachycardic, tachypnoeic and markedly hypoxaemic. Patchy nodular infiltrates on chest radiography and peripheral ground-glass opacities on CT imaging are features of both conditions, although they may also be observed in other respiratory diseases causing a noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema.4 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicates the most severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia and is also described in severe HAPE. The cytokine storm of the host inflammatory immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is central to the development of severe illness in a subset of patients, with the worst clinical outcomes reported in male patients, the elderly and in those with pre-existing illness. Anecdotally, adverse clinical outcomes are also observed more frequently in obese patients. High altitude travellers with a brisk hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response (HPVR) and risk factors for pulmonary hypertension, including obesityhypoventilation syndrome, may develop uneven pulmonary arteriolar vasoconstriction. This leads to stress failure of pulmonary capillaries in over-perfused areas of the lung, leading to a protein-rich pulmonary oedema. Evidence of alveolar epithelial inflammation manifests in both conditions. The role of defective reabsorption of sodium and water from the alveoli in HAPE led to the use of the inhaled beta-2agonist salmeterol in its prophylaxis, but to the best of our knowledge a similar approach has not been taken to date in COVID-19 patients. Microthrombi are reported in the pu","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":"8 1","pages":"89-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46979868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medical Tourism Overseas: A Challenge to Kuwait’s Healthcare System","authors":"Bader Alhendi, Saleh Al-Saifi, A. Khaja","doi":"10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ijtmgh.2020.04","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Introduction: The State of Kuwait spends large sums of governmental funds on sending patients abroad to receive medical treatment. This study aimed to explain the rationale behind receiving primary medical care overseas, given the expense and inconvenience, from the perspective of Kuwaiti patients whose applications were approved. Methods: The survey was designed based on recommendations from an expert panel of physicians working in Kuwait and aimed to give insight into outbound medical services as perceived by the Kuwaiti population. Using Google Forms, the survey was sent electronically to 1067 patients who received treatment abroad sponsored by the government in the year 2018, and 590 responses were returned. The study itself explored reasons for seeking treatment abroad, finances, preferred countries, and whether there were touristic reasons behind such practice. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: Overall, males (52.3%) and females (47.7%) were equally represented in the study sample. The mean age for the study sample was 41±13.4 years. Approximately 45.3% of the respondents were married and had children. Of the remaining respondents, 21.9% were married with no children and 23.8% were single without children. All respondents received medical treatment abroad, and 52.3% of the married respondents and 47.7% of the single respondents stated that they received treatment once and more than once, respectively. Conclusion: Most Kuwaiti citizens do not have faith in the Kuwaiti medical system. Therefore, heavy investments are needed to send patients abroad.","PeriodicalId":32539,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45618358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}