THE IMPACT OF TRAVEL ACQUIRED ILLNESS ON THE WORLD TRAVELER AND FAMILY DOCTOR AND THE NEED FOR PRE-TRAVEL HEALTH-EDUCATION

This retrospective study involved a 20% quota, age and sex stratified sample of people over 16 years of age, presenting to a group medical p ractice over a period of one year (N = 1568). A standardised, computer -scored, self-report questionnaire was administered. The response rate was 98.3%. 42% of respondents had travelled outwith the UK in the pre vious year of those, 42% had become ill whilst abroad In 20.5% of case s the illness settled without treatment. However 26% of the patients r equired consultation with a doctor whilst abroad and 48.4% of those be coming ill required further attention from the family doctor on return home. 5% of ill travellers were admitted to hospital abroad. 8% of al l travellers did not have medical insurance cover A large and signific ant population of travellers become ill whilst abroad, and travel-acqu ired illness has a large impact on general practice, with 1 in 5 trave llers seeking GP consultation on return home. Improved practice-genera ted pre-travel health advice might decrease this burden on primary car e.