ATHNA Partners with CDC, ISTM and ACHA to Study Student Travel: Join Us!

As previously reported, ATHNA joined a very special collaborative research project this past summer. Several of our members continue to participate in the development of a study protocol that will help us better understand the health experience of college travelers.

The collaborating team is now seeking to identify additional sites for this exciting and important project. ATHNA is eager to find members who practice at small colleges and have an interest in exploring issues of international student travel.

If you would like more information about this wonderful opportunity to learn more about your students, work directly with CDC, and join a diverse group of travel health colleagues, please send an email to Gail Rosselot garosselot@aol.com.

This is an amazing opportunity for any of our members who would like to get involved in research and also expand their professional network. Opportunities like this simply don't come along every day!

Project Overview

The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge and insight on health-related preparations by universities with undergraduate student study abroad programs and health-related events experienced by undergraduate students studying abroad.

There will be three study populations:

  1. Undergraduate study abroad university program staff (both public and private)
  2. The student health center staff at the university
  3. University undergraduate students returning from studying abroad

University study abroad program staff will complete an anonymous web-based questionnaire on current health-related preparation practices regarding university undergraduate students studying abroad from their campuses. The student health center at the university will complete an anonymous web-based questionnaire describing services provided to undergraduate students preparing to study abroad. University undergraduate students enrolled in study abroad programs at the enrolled universities will be asked to complete an anonymous web-based questionnaire after their return from abroad, asking specific questions about health-related events during travel. Undergraduate student travelers must be 18 years of age or older, traveled internationally through a university-sanctioned study abroad program in the previous 3 months, and be willing and eligible to participate.

We hope findings from this study can be used to inform university study abroad programs, undergraduate student travelers, clinicians, public health officials, and other stakeholders on the following aspects of care related to undergraduate students studying abroad:

  1. Help to identify key gaps in health preparation and knowledge at the university-level for undergraduate students studying abroad
  2. Gain knowledge on the current practices of student health centers regarding undergraduate study abroad students
  3. Ascertain health-related events undergraduate students experience while abroad
  4. Develop detailed communication plans and action items to assist with the prevention travel-related health incidents at both the university and individual levels