Travel Risk Research Articles

Mobile health teleconsultation and telemedicine in operating outpatient departments during COVID-19 pandemic at a hospital in Eastern Nepal

ABSTRACT Background: Telemedicine provides a means to deliver healthcare across distances, enhancing efficiency and accessibility, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted its importance by reducing the risk of virus transmission while maintaining healthcare delivery. This study evaluates the telemedicine program implemented at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Nepal, which provided specialist services to remote districts via teleconsultation during the 2020 lockdown. The objectives were to identify the number of patients, the major complaints, and the follow-up departments during teleconsultation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on teleconsultation data from March 1 to August 31, 2020, across various outpatient departments at BPKIHS. Data from 10,901 patients were reviewed, with variables including age, gender, residence, and consultation medium. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS (version 22). Results: Most of the patients (55.46%) were female, and the majority (30.84%) aged 21–30 years. Most consultations were from the Sunsari district (54.8%) and Koshi state (88.9%). Voice calls were the primary medium (39.62%), followed by WhatsApp video calls (30.08%). Obstetrics and gynecology had the highest consultation rate (16.15%), followed by dermatology (14.4%) and psychiatry (10.37%). Nearly half of the patients (45.0%) had follow-up consultations, primarily for dermatological issues (17.85%). Conclusion: The findings underscore telemedicine’s role in facilitating healthcare access, particularly for women and residents of remote areas, by reducing travel and exposure risks. This study highlights the need for further integration of telehealth technologies to enhance healthcare delivery, suggesting that teleconsultation can efficiently meet healthcare demands in resource-limited settings during and beyond pandemics.

Travel intention to destination via virtual tour: role of perceived travel risks and behavioral

Travel intention to destination via virtual tour: role of perceived travel risks and behavioral

Determinants influencing tourists’ willingness to visit Türkiye – Impact of earthquake hazards on Serbian visitors’ preferences

Abstract Earthquakes are a rather complex natural phenomenon that cannot be prevented, and their effects can be catastrophic and have profound implications on various economic sectors (especially tourism). This study investigates the relationships between subjective factors (gender, age, education, previous experience, and disaster anxiety), the perceived travel risk, and the travel intention of tourists from Serbia to destinations in Türkiye. The pilot study was done in March 2023 with 110 respondents from the Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Tourism, and Hotel Management, Novi Sad. After the validation of the instruments, the main survey was conducted in the period from March to June 2023. The subjects of interest were residents of Serbia over the age of 18. The data from this study are analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis and path analyses. This study aims to enhance the understanding of perceived risk and travel intention, specifically focusing on Türkiye. The assessed outcome relates to how tourists perceive three specific categories of risk when traveling to destinations with a high risk of natural disasters, such as earthquake-prone areas. The findings suggest that older respondents tend to perceive lower physical and financial travel risks, even though the influence of age on the perception of socio-psychological risks was inconclusive. Further results reveal that individuals with prior experience tend to hold a heightened perception of physical, financial, and socio-psychological risks. An examination of the relationship between disaster anxiety and perceived travel risks indicates that physical, financial, and socio-psychological risks exert a negative influence on travel intention. Thus, this study may provide a conceptual foundation for both theoretical and practical implications for the improvement of risk management techniques at a specific travel destination in areas prone to earthquake hazards.

The effects of thematic tour groups and wanderlust on travel risk perceptions

Providing consumers with safe travel and tourism offerings is of the utmost importance to marketers of travel/vacation destinations. Thus, understanding and finding new ways to entice consumers to take the plunge and book a trip is essential, especially for marketers looking to attract consumers with unique interests. This research examines an intersection between two travel and tourism offerings: packaged tours and special interest tourism. Specifically, this research looks at the effect of thematic tour group offerings on consumers’ travel intentions. It explores whether giving consumers the option of a thematic tour group might lower risk perceptions, enticing them to travel. This research also proposes that thematic tour groups reduce risk perceptions by stimulating an individual’s wanderlust.

Health equity via inclusive communications: self-censorship of marginalized health needs in qualitative research

ABSTRACT Based on a multi-phase study conducted on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) age-friendly cities program, healthy-cities program, and global sustainable-cities initiatives, this paper assesses how older adults – particularly those living with chronic health conditions and disabilities – discuss mobility challenges in qualitative research. Initial results indicate that demobilizing levels of travel cost and travel risk are implied, with older adults refraining from direct discussion. Reflective analysis is performed on marginalized older adults’ conceptual associations, ideologies, and response to social norms, to identify sources of pressure which may lead to downplaying or self-censorship on transport disadvantage. Results highlight that inequalities may arise from both the built environment and how research trainees communicate in research. Despite literature which suggests severe impacts of transport disadvantage, older adults may face difficulties in voicing their needs when research trainees adhere to the following social norms. First, physical access and feasibility may be minimized as mere matters of convenience to the able-bodied individual; second, overcoming transportation barriers may be seen as based on one’s effort – as opposed to the disabling effects of the built environment; third, health and fitness in general may be also associated with one’s effort, and increasingly also to one’s commitment to environmental-sustainability; fourth, older adults may feel pressure to align perspectives with more privileged stakeholders, or with the general public; fifth, money and income may be delegitimized as apt research topics, regardless of how inability to overcome travel costs may impact daily-wellbeing. Implications for educating future gerontology-research trainees conclude the study.

Solo female travelers: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

PurposeSolo travel is one of the fastest-growing tourism segments, especially among women. This study aims to identify which research topics of interest are more evident in solo female travelers (SFTs) and provide future researchers directions to explore some other research areas in SFTs.Design/methodology/approachAdopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, the searched keywords included “female travel*” OR “women travel*” AND solo, extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Emerald and ProQuest databases conducted in English.FindingsOut of the 163 initial records, 25 papers were included. The reviews revealed four research topics that are more evident in SFT studies, namely, push and pull factors, perceived risks and travel constraints, risk management and negotiation strategy and travel experience. More work is required on SFTs beyond the existing research streams.Research limitations/implicationsThe papers selected for this study were chosen based on the review’s selection criteria and might omit other SFT studies.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to uncovering the literature on SFTs to date.

Διοίκηση υπηρεσιών στην οργάνωση και διοίκηση των εκπαιδευτικών μονάδων. Παράγοντες και κίνητρα συμμετοχής σε Ευρωπαϊκά προγράμματα των εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης. Έρευνα του Ν. Λάρισας και του Ν. Πιερίας

The European Educational Programmes hold an important place in the educational process and they constitute a form of educational tourism. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the participation of Primary Education teachers from the prefectures of Larisa and Pieria in European Educational Programmes. The personal motivation factors according to Herzberg are being researched, along with the push-pull theory and the travel risk during a crisis period. According to the research findings, the Primary Education teachers from the prefectures of Larisa and Pieria take into serious consideration both the push-pull motives and the personal motivation factors according to Herzberg for participating in European Educational Programmes. As far as travel risk is concerned, the teachers seem to take into considerable account the dangers that might occur due to some kind of crisis (health crisis, natural crisis, etc). The present study and its findings offer strategic and practical support to the administration services spectrum of the European organisations during the promotion and implementation of the European Educational Programmes.

Factors influencing travelers' intention by environmental changes of destination: Cross‐country evidence from Far‐East Asia

AbstractTravel intentions are influenced by not only personal background but also external factors such as national disasters, infectious diseases, and government policy. While international flights and the travel market are sharply recovering from the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic, travel risk will affect future travel demand. This study analyzed the relationship between potential risk of destination and travel avoidance intention using the stimulus‐organism‐response (SOR) model. The survey was conducted with 303 Chinese and 253 South Korean respondents living in countries adjacent to Japan. The results reveal that travel avoidance intentions may be influenced by emotional reactions to the complexity of the geopolitical environment or the diverse protection motivation perceptions of travelers. This study proposes that nationality has a moderate effect on tentative travel avoidance intention compared to gender.

When Are "Paraphernalia" Critical Medical Supplies?

Evidence of harm reduction interventions' morbidity and mortality benefits is abundant and of high quality, so there are good reasons for regional and national groups to advocate for more widespread distribution of legally regulated "drug paraphernalia," including needles, syringes, and fentanyl test strips. But lack of consistency among states' laws means that patients' interstate travel can subject them to being charged with possession of illegal items. This commentary on a case offers guidance to clinicians looking to help patients understand legal risks of interstate travel with supplies that are prescribed or recommended to reduce harms of their drug use and explores the ethical responsibilities of physicians in jurisdictions that legally prohibit these harm reduction interventions.

Travel medicine updates for the NP.

This article provides an overview of the approach to preparing patients for travel, including travel counseling and risk mitigation through vaccination and chemoprophylaxis. Although some patients require referral for consultation with a travel medicine specialist, others can be managed by their primary care provider. In this article, traveler's diarrhea, updated travel-related immunizations, and malaria prophylaxis are discussed.

Streamlining Customer Communication through AI-powered Chatbots in Travel Agencies

Abstract: The Travels Management System (TMS) is a comprehensive solution designed to optimize travel operations for both travelers and administrators. It offers an intuitive interface accessible via web and mobile platforms, allowing for easy booking and reservation management. TMS simplifies expense tracking by consolidating all travel-related expenses in one place, enabling administrators to generate detailed reports to analyze travel expenditure and identify cost-saving opportunities. It also helps enforce travel policies by providing alerts and notifications when bookings fall outside established guidelines, ensuring adherence to company policies and budgetary constraints. TMS offers seamless integration with third-party systems, enabling automated data exchange and enhanced functionality. It also includes features for monitoring travel risks, such as weather alerts, political unrest, or health advisories, allowing administrators to proactively address potential risks and ensure traveler safety. TMS can be customized to meet the unique needs of different organizations, with scalable options to accommodate growing businesses and evolving travel requirements. Overall, TMS provides a comprehensive solution for optimizing travel operations, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies, allowing businesses and individuals to focus on their core objectives while enjoying hassle-free travel experiences. IndexTerms– HTML, CSS, Javascript, MySQL, PHP.

Role of Attitude Toward Destination on the Relationship between Travel Motivation, Destination Image, Risk Perception, and Rural Tourism

Role of Attitude Toward Destination on the Relationship between Travel Motivation, Destination Image, Risk Perception, and Rural Tourism

After the pandemic subsides: The impact of motivation for vaccination and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination certificate toward tourists’ travel intention

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited human mobility, including in matters of vacation. Governments in many countries require their citizens to vaccinate to reduce patients and deaths from COVID-19. On the other hand, the government also provides concessions to residents who want to travel if they have received vaccinations. This study examines the factors that influence the intention of tourists to travel during the pandemic. The predictor factors used in this study were motivation for COVID-19 vaccination, perception of COVID-19, travel risk perception, and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination certificate. We conducted this study in a city on the island of Java, Indonesia. This study’s data collection used an online questionnaire, and participants were selected using a convenient sampling method. In total, there were 212 participants involved. The data were processed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling. As a result, motivation for COVID-19 vaccination and travel risk perception significantly affected the attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination certificates. Besides, travel risk perception greatly influenced travel intention after the pandemic subsides. This study deepens the field of tourism marketing and health marketing.

A freeway vehicle early warning method based on risk map: Enhancing traffic safety through global perspective characterization of driving risk

In the era of rapid advancements in intelligent transportation, utilizing vehicle operating data to evaluate the risk of freeway vehicles and study on vehicle early warning methods not only lays a theoretical foundation for improving the active safety of vehicles, but also provides the technical support for reducing accident rate. This paper proposes a freeway vehicle early warning method based on risk map to enhance vehicle safety. Firstly, Modified Time-to-Collision (MTTC), a two-dimensional indicator that describes the risk of inter-vehicle travel, is used as an indicator of road traffic risk. This paper designs a transformation function to probabilistically transform MTTC into Risk Indicators (RI). The single-vehicle risk map is generated based on the mapping relationship between the risk values and the corresponding roadway segments. These single-vehicle risk maps of all vehicles on the road are superimposed to construct the risk map, which is used to describe the risk distribution in the freeway. Then, a vehicle early warning framework is built based on the risk map. The risk values in the risk map are compared with predefined early warning thresholds to alert the vehicle when it enters a high-risk state. Finally, VISSIM is used to carry out simulation experiments. The experiment simulates a freeway accident stopping situation. This scenario includes sub-scenarios such as unplanned stopping and lane-changing, continuous lane-changing, and adjacent lane overtaking. We analyze the risk map and vehicle warning results in different sub-scenarios, evaluate the risk changes of the vehicles before and after receiving the warning, and compare the warning results of the method in this paper with other alternative methods. The method is applied to 17 vehicles in the simulation to adjust their motion states. The results show that the total warning time is reduced by 29.6% and 73.3% of vehicles change lanes away from the accident vehicle. The overall results validate the effectiveness of the vehicle early warning method based on risk map proposed in this paper.

Imported Buruli ulcer-is there risk for travellers?

Transmission routes of Mycobacterium ulcerans to humans are not clear, but the predominance of long-term travellers and migrants in imported cases reflect possible prolonged exposures to specific factors in rural environments. Buruli ulcer should always be considered in cases of non-healing ulcers, even if other infectious agents are identified initially.

Staycation: A review of definitions, trends, and intersections

Staycations have emerged as a popular alternative in the tourism industry, driven by travel risks and restrictions. However, the concept of staycations remains ambiguous, lacking a clear definition and distinct features. This review aims to shed light on key aspects of staycations, including time, distance, types, locations, cost, and benefits. As tourism becomes an integral part of modern lifestyle, there is a need for further research on proximity experiences, both in physical and online spaces. Future studies should focus on staycation development, product design, well-being considerations, and sustainability aspects. This review offers valuable insights to support in-depth investigations, enabling the enhancement of domestic tourism and resident well-being. It also emphasizes the importance of integrating advanced technologies and promoting sustainable practices for a thriving staycation industry.

Proxenia as a Model for Early Christian Host-Leaders

To mitigate the costs and risks of travel, Greek communities utilized the formal social institution of proxenia. The honorific title of proxenos (“public host”) was bestowed upon someone in another community who provided travelers with hospitality services, such as physical accommodation, social access, and legal protections. This social institution of proxenia, similar to but more specific than ancient patronage or benefaction, offers a fruitful heuristic model for interpreting travel among early Christians and the role of host-leaders within the emerging movement. Itinerant Christians would have utilized the proxenos-paradigm and cultivated proxenos-like relationships with prominent Christian hosts. This paper examines how Philemon and Phoebe functioned as proxenos-like hosts for Christians traveling through their respective cities. We conclude with discussions regarding the prominence and authority of proxenia-like host-leaders within early Christian social networks. Such people with the capacity to facilitate travel and grant social inclusion amassed significant power, as they became the centralized nodes enabling social connectivity..

Advising the immunocompromised traveller: a review of immunocompromise at The London Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic between 1st April 2019 and 30th April 2020.

Immunocompromised travellers (ICTs) face greater infectious and non-infectious travel-associated risks than their immunocompetent counterparts. Increasing travel and emergence of novel immunosuppressants poses great challenges for travel medicine practitioners to confidently provide up-to-date evidence-based risk management advice and pre-travel care for ICTs. We reviewed the records of ICTs attending the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD) Travel Clinic between 1st April 2019 and 30th April 2020 with the aim to describe demographic and travel characteristics, type, and severity of immunocompromise, the degree of risk associated with intended travel and evaluate travel advice. Of the 193 ICTs identified, immunocompromise was due to physiological reasons (42%), chronic infection (17.1%) and immunosuppressive therapy (16.6%). Median age was 38 (range 9 months to 84 years) and male to female ratio 0.75 (83:110). Travel was intended to 80 countries for a median of 16 days (range 2 to 3167), predominantly for leisure (53%), non-medical work (17%) and visiting friends and relatives (12%). Live vaccine safety dominated discussion in the pre-travel consultation. Existing guidelines arguably fell short in dealing with travel risks associated with hyper-specific conditions, targeted immunosuppressants and non-vaccine preventable infections. Our cohort represents a wide spectrum of immunocompromise, for whom we arguably need more measurable ways to approach travel-associated risks. We propose prospective qualitative participatory research to inform our unit of the priorities of ICTs in the pre-travel consultation. We further recommend the formation of a repository of specialists and formulary of complex cases to direct subsequent informative systematic review and prospective risk studies.

Network Big Data Analysis with Multi-Factor Hashing Ethereum Classification (Mfh-Ec): An Approach to Develop Strategy of the Tourism Industry Under the Post-Epidemic Situation

In the tourism industry, big data has emerged as a revolutionizing the way businesses operate and travelers experience destinations. With the vast amount of data generated from online bookings, social media interactions, and mobile applications, tourism companies can gain valuable insights into traveler preferences, behavior patterns, and market trends. This paper proposes a development strategy for the tourism industry in the post-epidemic situation, leveraging network big data analysis with Multi-Factor Hashing Ethereum Classification (MFH-EC). By harnessing the power of network big data, this strategy aims to provide insights into changing traveler preferences, market dynamics, and risk factors in the wake of the pandemic. The MFH-EC model facilitates the classification and analysis of diverse factors influencing tourism development, including economic indicators, health and safety measures, environmental conditions, and traveler sentiment. Through simulated experiments and empirical validations, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is assessed, demonstrating significant improvements in predictive accuracy and decision-making capabilities. For instance, the MFH-EC model achieved an 80% accuracy rate in predicting tourism demand shifts and a 30% reduction in forecasting errors compared to traditional methods. These results underscore the potential of network big data analysis with MFH-EC in guiding strategic decision-making and fostering sustainable recovery and growth in the tourism industry post-epidemic.

Exploring The Impact of Perceived Travel Risk Antecedents on Travel Intentions during The Endemic Phase of COVID-19: An Integrative Approach of Protective Motivation Theory (PMT) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)

Exploring The Impact of Perceived Travel Risk Antecedents on Travel Intentions during The Endemic Phase of COVID-19: An Integrative Approach of Protective Motivation Theory (PMT) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)