Body of knowledge for the practice of travel medicine.

Abstract

The field of travel medicine has grown dramatically as greater numbers of people travel to exotic and remote destinations. Over 700 million travelers cross international borders annually. However, studies suggest that only a very small percent seek pretravel health advice and typically from practitioners who are ill equipped to provide current and accurate information. Travel medicine has become increasingly complex due to dynamic changes in global infectious disease epidemiology, changing patterns of drug resistance, and a rise in the number of travelers with chronic health conditions. This Body of Knowledge was created to guide the professional development of individuals practicing travel medicine and to shape curricula and training programs in travel medicine. It is also expected to serve as a vehicle for establishing the content validity of a credentialing process. It is the scope and extent of knowledge required for professionals working in the field of travel medicine. Major content areas include the global epidemiology of health risks to the traveler, vaccinology, malaria prevention, and pretravel counseling designed to maintain the health of the traveling public. In September 1999, the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) Executive Board established a group of travel medicine experts from its membership to define the scope of knowledge in the field of travel medicine worldwide. The final draft of their report was converted to survey format and mailed to 110 ISTM members worldwide, who were representative of the diversity within the profession. The respondents provided further … Corresponding Author: Phyllis Kozarsky, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, PO Box 871089, Stone Mountain, GA 30087‐0028, USA. E‐mail: istm{at}istm.org