Travel Health-Related Preparation Practices of Institutions of Higher Education and Occurrence of Health-Related Events Among Undergraduate Students Studying Abroad, 2018–2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v36i1.871Keywords:
Alcohol, drugs, mental health, pre-travel consultation, study abroadAbstract
Background: Knowledge of specific health-related events encountered by students studying abroad and the availability and use of pre-travel healthcare for these students is lacking. Methods: Anonymous web-based questionnaires were sent to study abroad offices, student health centers, and undergraduate students after studying abroad at eight institutions of higher education in the United States and Ireland from 2018–2021. Analyses were descriptive; relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for health-related events. Results: One study abroad office required a pre-travel consultation. All student health centers had pre-travel counseling available. Among 686 students, there were 307 infectious and 1,588 non-infectious health-related issues; 12 students (2%) were hospitalized. Duration of travel and timing of a pre-travel consultation impacted the risk of health-related events. Certain mental health conditions were associated with increased risk of alcohol and drug use. Conclusion: Future studies should address the optimal timing and best practices to optimize health for students studying abroad.
Downloads
References
American College Health Foundation. (2022). A Guide for travel health practices at institutes of higher education. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.acha.org/ACHA/Foundation/Partner_Supported_Resources/Travel_Health_Practices_Guide.aspx.
Angelin, M., Evengård, B., Palmgren, H. (2015) Illness and risk behavior in health care students studying abroad. Med Educ, 49(7), 684–91. DOI: 10.1111/medu.12753 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.12753
Angelo, K.M., Haulman, N.J., Terry, A.C., et al. (2018). Illness among US resident student travelers after return to the United States: A GeoSentinel analysis, 2007–2017. J Travel Med, 25(1), 1–7. DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tay074 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofy209.082
Angelo, K.M., Rhodes, G., DeRomaña, I. (2020). Study abroad and other international student travel. In: G.B. Brunette, J. B. Nemhauser (Eds.), Yellow Book (pp. 510–14). Oxford University Press.
Aresi, G., Moore, S., Marta, E. (2016a). Drinking, drug use, and related consequences among university students completing study abroad experiences: a systematic review. Subst Use Misuse, 51(14), 1888–1904. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1201116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1201116
Aresi, G., Moore, S., Marta, E. (2016b). Italian credit mobility students significantly increase their alcohol intake, risky drinking and related consequences during the study abroad experience. Alcohol, 51(6), 723–26. DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agw028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agw028
Aresi, G., Moore, S.C., Berridge, D.M., Marta E. (2019). A longitudinal study of European students’ alcohol use and related behaviors as they travel abroad to study. Subst Use Misuse, 54(7), 1167–77. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1567787 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2019.1567787
Buckner, J.D., Keough, M.E., Schmidt, N.B. (2007). Problematic alcohol and cannabis use among young adults: the roles of depression and discomfort and distress intolerance. Addict Behav, 32(9), 1957–63. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.12.019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.12.019
Chen, L.H., Hochburg, N.S. (2020). The pre-travel consultation. In G.B. Brunette, J. B. Nemhauser (Eds.), Yellow Book (pp. 9–17). Oxford University Press.
Colder, C.R., Lee, Y.H., Frndak, S., Read, J.P., Wieczorek, W.F. (2019). Internalizing symptoms and cannabis and alcohol use: between- and within-person risk pathways with coping motives. J Consult Clin Psychol, 87(7), 629–44. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000413 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000413
Education Policy Institute. (2018). Prevalence of mental health issues within the student-aged population. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/prevalence-of-mental-health-issues-within-the-student-aged-population/?msclkid=a83f505eb41911ec9bf23934f8f28881.
Erasmus. (2019). Erasmus Programme. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from http://www.erasmusprogramme.com/
Eurostat. (2016). Learning mobility statistics. Retreived January 26, 2022, from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Learning_mobility_statistics.
Fanari, A., & Segrin, C. (2021). Longitudinal effects of US students’ reentry shock on psychological health after returning home during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Int J Intercult Relat, 82, 298–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.04.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.04.013
Flack, W.F., Kimble, M.O., Campbell, B.E., et al. (2014). Sexual assault victimization among female undergraduates during study abroad: a single campus survey study. J Interpers Violence, 30, 3453–3566. DOI: 10.1177/0886260514563833 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514563833
Flaherty, G., & Md Nor, M.N. (2016). Travel itinerary uncertainty and the pre-travel consultation—a pilot study. J Travel Med, 23(1). DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tav010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/tav010
Hartjes, L.B., Baumann, L.C., Henriques, J.B. (2009). Travel health risk perceptions and prevention behaviors of US study abroad students. J Travel Med, 16(5),338–43. DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00322.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8305.2009.00322.x
Hummer, J.F., Pedersen, E.R., Mirtza, T., et al. (2010). Factors associated with general and sexual alcohol-related consequences: an examination of college students studying abroad. J Stud Aff Res Pract, 47, 421–38. https://doi: 10.2202/1949-6605.6134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.6134
Kitro, A., Ngamprasertchai, T., & Srithanaviboonchai, K. (2022). Infectious diseases and predominant travel-related syndromes among long-term expatriates living in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines, 8(1), 11. DOI: 10.1186/s40794-022-00168-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00168-4
Li, X., Diviant, J.P., Stith, S.S., et al. (2020). The effectiveness of Cannabis flower for immediate relief from symptoms of depression. Yale J Biol Med, 93(2), 251–64.
Lucas, J. (2009). Over-stressed, overwhelmed, and over here: resident directors and the challenges of student mental health abroad. Frontiers, 18, 187–216. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v18i1.261 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v18i1.261
Mitchell, M.A., Poyrazli, S., & Matukaitis Broyles, L. (2016). Hazardous alcohol use and cultural adjustment among US college students abroad in Italy: findings and recommendations for study abroad staff and researchers. Subst Abus, 37(1), 215–21. DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1019663 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2015.1019663
Neave, P.E., Nair, B., Heywood, A.E. (2017). Student travel health and the role of universities and health clinics in New Zealand to prevent imported infections: a cross-sectional study. J Travel Med, 24(3). DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/tax009
Open Doors. (2021). U.S. Students Study Abroad 2019/2020 Data. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://opendoorsdata.org/data/us-study-abroad.
Pedersen, E.R., DiGuiseppi, G., Klein, D.J., et. al. (2021). Sexual violence victimization among American college students studying abroad. J Am Coll Health, 1–10. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1950733 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1950733
Pedersen, E.R., LaBrie, J.W., Hummer, J.F., et.al. (2010). Heavier drinking American college students may self-select into study abroad programs: an examination of sex and ethnic differences within a high-risk group. Addict Behav, 35, 844–47. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.04.003
Pedersen, E.R., Larimer, M.E., Lee, C.M. (2010). When in Rome: factors associated with changes in drinking behavior among American college students studying abroad. Psychol Addict Behav, 24, 535–40. DOI: 10.1037/a0019863 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019863
UCAS. (2021). Starting the Conversation UCAS Report on Mental Health. Retrieved April 5, 2022 from https://www.ucas.com/file/513961/download?token=wAaKRniC.
United Educators. (2020). Prepare students with mental health issues to study abroad. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.ue.org/risk-management/enterprise-risk-management/prepare-students-with-mental-health-issues-to-study-abroad/
University of Minnesota. (2019). 2018 College Student Health Survey Report. Retrieved April 4, 2022 from https://boynton.umn.edu/sites/boynton.umn.edu/files/2018-11/CSHS-2018-UMN-Twin-Cities.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Kristina Angelo, Kaitlyn Ciampaglio, Julie Richards, Anjali Silva, Catherine Ebelke, Gerard Flaherty, Gary Brunette, Sarah Kohl
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.