Behavior and Knowledge of Outgoing Thai Travelers Related to Medicinal Use
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31351/vol33iss2pp197-207Keywords:
Travelers, Medicinal use, behavior, knowledgeAbstract
Consultation with a healthcare professional before to travel is the basis of travel medicine. Those who received pre-travel advice from health experts exhibited lower risk behavior. This study aimed to identify outgoing Thai travelers’ behavior and knowledge regarding medicinal use when traveling. A cross-sectional survey of Thai nationals traveling abroad was conducted via a self-administered online questionnaire. The analyzed data was collected from February 2020 to June 2020. A descriptive statistic was used for the data analysis. Seven hundred people agreed to take part in this study. Most of them were female and aged 51-60 years old. The most popular destinations among the respondents were located in Asia, followed by Europe. The top five destination countries were Japan, China, Vietnam, Laos and Germany. A preferred source of information on pre-travel health consultation was the internet (43.51%). Most of the respondents did not have travel vaccinations (82.29%). Over-the-counter drugs were the most common medication carried by the respondents. Many of the outgoing Thai travelers had a good (41.29%) to excellent (46.86%) level of behavior related to medicinal use both before and during their journeys. Many participants reported that they checked the expiration date and the appearance of the medicine. Age exhibited a significant relationship with respondents’ behavior. Numerous respondents had an excellent level of knowledge related to medicinal use in terms of their medicines’ stability and storage, its use and administration, and medical laws. Gender, marital status, income, and immunization before travel had a significant relationship with the respondents' knowledge. Most of respondents obtained health-related information prior to their travels via the internet. Most participants had great level of health behavior and medicinal use knowledge.
Received 19/4/2022
Accepted 29/6/2022
Published 27/6/2024
How to Cite
Publication Dates
References
Leder K, Borwein S, Chanthavanich P, Chatterjee S, Htun K, Marma ASP, et al. Travel medicine perspectives of select travel medicine experts practicing in the Asia-Pacific region. J Travel Med. 2017;24(4): DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax012.
Kalanlar B, Şenel M, Gürsel ET, Gönül N, Bilgiç B, Aydoğan FK, et al. International Travelers’ Behaviors and Knowledge of Travel Health, Travel-Related Diseases, and Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Travel Med Glob Health 2018;6(4):168-73.
Faiq MK, Kadhim DJ, Gorial FI. The Belief about Medicines among a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Iraqi J Pharm Sci. 2019;28(2):134-41.
Antwi AN, Stewart A, Crosbie M. Fighting antibiotic resistance: a narrative review of public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of antibiotics use. Perspect Public Health. 2020;140(6):338-50.
El-Kurdi R, Rhodes LA, Sauls AD, Selinger R, Schimmelfing JT, Chelminski AN, et al. Assessing barriers to patient acceptance of pharmacist-provided recommendations for international travel. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2019;59(4):S72-S6.
Lee A, Sim F, Mackie P. Travel – not without consequence. Public Health. 2019;168:A1-A2.
World Health Organization. Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers; and malaria situation per country 2021 [Available from: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ documents/ emergencies/travel-advice/ ith2021_countrylist_final_26may2021.pdf?sfvrsn=f8d06644_1&download=true. Accessed January 2, 2022.
World Health Organization. International travel and health 2021 [Available from: https:// www. who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580472. Accessed January 2, 2022.
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Impact assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak on international tourism 2020 [Available from: https:// www. unwto.org /impact-assessment-of-the-covid-19-outbreak-on-international-tourism. Accessed January 2, 2022.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Intelligence center. Tourism statistic and tourism expenditure by outgoing Thai travellers 2020 [Available from: https:// intelligencecenter .tat . or .th /articles /24451. Accessed January 2, 2022.
Stoney RJ, Kozarsky P, Bostick RM, Sotir MJ. International travellers from New Jersey: piloting a travel health module in the 2011 behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey. J Travel Med. 2016;23(1).
Wang S, Zhang Y, Ding W, Meng Y, Hu H, Liu Z, et al. Psychological distress and sleep problems when people are under interpersonal isolation during an epidemic: A nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study. Eur Psychiatry. 2020;63(1):e77.
Wells JS, Bergin M, Van Hout MC, McGuinness P, De Pleissisc J, Rich E, et al. Purchasing Over The Counter (OTC) Medicinal Products Containing Codeine - Easy Access, Advertising, Misuse and Perceptions of Medicinal Risk. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2018;21(1):30049.
Yamane T. Statistics: an introductory analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Harper and Row; 1967.
Boonyathee S, Ong-Artborirak P, Seangpraw K, Tonchoy P, Kantow S, Bootsikeaw S, et al. Health Behavior, Level of Hemoglobin A1c, and Quality of Life Among Agricultural Workers of Various Ethnicities in Thai Border Communities. Frontiers in Medicine. 2022;9:796955. doi: 10.3389/ fmed. 2022. 796955).
Al-Abri SS, Abdel-Hady DM, Al-Abaidani IS. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding travel health among Muscat International Airport travelers in Oman: Identifying the gaps and addressing the challenges. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2016;6(2):67-75.
Hamer DH, Connor BA. Travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices among United States travelers. J Travel Med. 2004;11(1):23-6.
Tjostheim I, Tussyadiah IP, Hoem SO, editors. Combination of information sources in travel planning: a cross-national study. Information and communication technologies in tourism; 2007; Vienna: Springer Vienna.
World Health Organization. International travel and health 2019 [Available from: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ documents /emergencies/travel-advice/ith-travel – chapter – 6 – vaccines _cc218697-75d2-4032-b5b7-92e0fa171474. pdf? sfvrsn= 285473b4 _4&download=true.
Kc B, Khan TM, Xuan WY, Alrasheedy AA, Mohamed Ibrahim MI, Leggat PA. Travel health-related activities and services provided by community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia: A cross-sectional analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2020;33:101463.
Dahlgren AL, DeRoo L, Steffen R. Prevention of travel-related infectious diseases: knowledge, practices and attitudes of Swedish travellers. Scand J Infect Dis. 2006;38(11-12):1074-80.
Toovey S, Jamieson A, Holloway M. Travelers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on the prevention of infectious diseases: results from a study at Johannesburg International Airport. J Travel Med. 2004;11(1):16-22.
Van Herck K, Zuckerman J, Castelli F, Van Damme P, Walker E, Steffen R. Travelers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices on prevention of infectious diseases: results from a pilot study. J Travel Med. 2003;10(2):75-8.
Lee YH, Lu CW, Wu PZ, Huang HL, Wu YC, Huang KC. Attitudes and awareness of medical assistance while traveling abroad. Global Health. 2018;14(1):67.
Mahadevan SV, Strehlow MC. Preparing for International Travel and Global Medical Care. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2017;35(2):465-84.
Sanford C, McConnell A, Osborn J. The pretravel consultation. Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(8):620-7.
Kareem AH, Kadhim DJ. Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients in AL-Diwanyia Province/Iraq. Iraqi J Pharm Sci. 2020;29(2):169-75.
Albert V, Lanz M, Imanidis G, Hersberger KE, Arnet I. Stability of medicines after repackaging into multicompartment compliance aids: eight criteria for detection of visual alteration. Drugs Ther Perspect. 2017;33(10):487-96.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Improving patient outcomes - the better use of multi-compartment compliance aids. 2017 [Available from: https:// www. rpharms. com/ Portals/ 0/RPS%20document%20library/Open%20access/Support/toolkit/rps-mca-july-2013.pdf. Accessed January 2, 2022.
Al-Taweel HM, Al-Bdairi AS, Al-Ridha AS, Yousif MY, editors. Demographic differences in the travel Behaviour: Case Study of regional route in Iraq. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering; 2020: IOP Publishing.
Stienlauf S, Streltsin B, Meltzer E, Kopel E, Leshem E, Segal G, et al. Chronic illnesses in travelers to developing countries. Travel medicine and infectious disease. 2014;12(6):757-63.
Frizelle F. The older Traveller: a guide for the health professional. NZ Med J. 2018;131(1477):118-9.
Darrat M, Flaherty GT. Retrospective analysis of older travellers attending a specialist travel health clinic. Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines. 2019;5(1):17.
Hamer DH, MacLeod WB, Chen LH, Hochberg NS, Kogelman L, Karchmer AW, et al. Pretravel Health Preparation of International Travelers: Results From the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes. 2017;1(1):78-90.
Zwar N. Travelling with medicines in 2018. Aust Prescr. 2018;41(4):102-4.
Manocha S, Suranagi UD, Sah RK, Chandane RD, Kulhare S, Goyal N, et al. Current Disposal Practices of Unused and Expired Medicines Among General Public in Delhi and National Capital Region, India. Curr Drug Saf. 2020;15(1):13-9.
Bashaar M, Thawani V, Hassali MA, Saleem F. Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):45.
Elliott I, Mayxay M, Yeuichaixong S, Lee SJ, Newton PN. The practice and clinical implications of tablet splitting in international health. Trop Med Int Health. 2014;19(7):754-60.
Cave J. Restrictions on travelling with medicines. Drug Ther Bull. 2018;56(11):132-5.
Ministry of Health and Welfare-Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China. Pharmaceutical Affairs Act 2018 [Available from: https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=L0030001.
Li S, Gibbs I. A Legislative/Legal History of Prescription Drug Advertising and Promotion Regulation. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2021;24(3):381-9.
Hauer KE, Jurich D, Vandergrift J, Lipner RS, McDonald FS, Yamazaki K, et al. Gender Differences in Milestone Ratings and Medical Knowledge Examination Scores Among Internal Medicine Residents. Acad Med. 2021;96(6):876-84.
Yuan F, Qian D, Huang C, Tian M, Xiang Y, He Z, et al. Analysis of awareness of health knowledge among rural residents in Western China. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(1):55.
Prapaso S, Luvira V, Lawpoolsri S, Songthap A, Piyaphanee W, Chancharoenthana W, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward COVID-19 among the international travelers in Thailand. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2021;7(1):29.
Tongchoiy N, Oebpob W, Panbamrungkij T. Middle East Tourist’s Behavior in Bangkok. Journal of Thai Hospitality and Tourism. 2021;16(1):40-55.
Mikhael EM, Al-Jumaili AA. Can developing countries face novel coronavirus outbreak alone? The Iraqi situation. Public Health in Practice. 2020;1:100004.
Shlim DR, Connor BA, Taylor DN. What will travel medicine look like in the COVID-19 pandemic era? Journal of Travel Medicine. 2020;28(2).
Costello V, Sowash M, Gaur A, Cardis M, Pasieka H, Wortmann G, et al. Imported Monkeypox from International Traveler, Maryland, USA, 2021. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022;28(5):1002-5.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Iraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences( P-ISSN 1683 - 3597 E-ISSN 2521 - 3512)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
