edoc-vmtest

The visiting friends or relatives traveler in the 21st century : time for a new definition

Barnett, E. D. and MacPherson, D. W. and Stauffer, W. M. and Loutan, L. and Hatz, C. F. and Matteelli, A. and Behrens, R. H.. (2010) The visiting friends or relatives traveler in the 21st century : time for a new definition. Journal of travel medicine, Vol. 17, H. 3. pp. 163-170.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5843052

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Travelers visiting friends or relatives (VFR travelers) are a group identified with an increased risk of travel-related illness. Changes in global mobility, travel patterns, and inter-regional travel led to reappraisal of the classic definition of the term VFR. METHODS: The peer-reviewed literature was accessed through electronic searchable sites (PubMed/Medline, ProMED, GeoSentinel, TropNetEurop, Eurosurveillance) using standard search strategies for the literature related to visiting friends/relatives, determinants of health, and travel. We reviewed the historic and current use of the definition of VFR traveler in the context of changes in population dynamics and mobility. RESULTS: The term 'VFR' is used in different ways in the literature making it difficult to assess and compare clinical and research findings. The classic definition of VFR is no longer adequate in light of an increasingly dynamic and mobile world population. CONCLUSIONS: We propose broadening the definition of VFR travelers to include those whose primary purpose of travel is to visit friends or relatives and for whom there is a gradient of epidemiologic risk between home and destination, regardless of race, ethnicity, or administrative/legal status (eg, immigrant). The evolution and application of this proposed definition and an approach to risk assessment for VFR travelers are discussed
Faculties and Departments:?? 478834 ??
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology (MPI) > Clinical Immunology (Daubenberger)
UniBasel Contributors:Hatz, Christoph
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Blackwell
ISSN:1195-1982
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:14 Sep 2012 07:19
Deposited On:14 Sep 2012 06:48

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