Characteristics and potential quality indicators for evaluating pre-travel consultations in Japan hospitals: the Japan Pretravel consultation registry (J-PRECOR)

• Published in: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines
• Main Authors: Kei Yamamoto, Yusuke Asai, Issaku Nakatani, Kenichi Hayashi, Hidenori Nakagawa, Koh Shinohara, Shinichiro Kanai, Michitsugu Shimatani, Masaya Yamato, Nobuyuki Shimono, Tsuyoshi Kitaura, Nobuhiro Komiya, Atsushi Nagasaka, Takahiro Mikawa, Akihiro Manabe, Takashi Matono, Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Taku Ogawa, Satoshi Kutsuna, Norio Ohmagari
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2022
• Subjects: Japan; Quality indicators; Health care; Pre-travel consultation; Registries; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-021-00160-4; https://doaj.org/article/d7332d86024d40448017d1f665a952e7

Abstract Background Awareness of pre-travel consultations (PTCs) and prevention methods for overseas travel-related diseases, and the understanding of PTCs among Japanese travelers and medical professionals remains low in Japan. A multicenter registry was established to examine PTCs in Japan. This study assessed the PTC implementation rate and examined the indicators of PTCs that can be used as criteria for evaluating quality. Methods Clients who presented for their PTCs at 17 facilities and were registered between February 1, 2018, and May 31, 2020, were included. Medical information was extracted retrospectively via a web-based system. Correlations between vaccination risk categories and advice/intervention proportions by the facility were evaluated using Spearman’s ordered phase relations (α = 0.05). Results Of the 9700 eligible clients (median age, 32 years; 880 [9.1%] aged < 16 years and 549 [5.7%] aged ≥65 years), the most common travel duration was ≥181 days (35.8%); higher among younger clients. The most common reason for travel was business (40.5%); the US (1118 [11.5%]) and Asia (4008 [41.3%]) were the most common destinations and continents, respectively. The vaccine number (median three per person) increased after the PTCs except for the tetanus toxoid. Only 60.8% of the clients recommended for malaria prophylaxis received anti-malarial agents. The gross national income; the incidence of human rabies, typhoid fever, falciparum malaria; and dengue risk category were associated with the percentage of hepatitis-A vaccines; explaining rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, typhoid-fever vaccinations, malaria-prophylaxis prescriptions; and mosquito repellants, respectively. Conclusions Although the characteristics of the travelers differed, the quality of the PTCs should be improved to address, for example, the lower rate of acceptance of malaria prophylaxis in Japan.