Perception and knowledge about some XXXX among travelers from Qu  bec, Canada.

@entity294 @entity99 @entity166 @entity1956
BACKGROUND: Many travelers from Qu  bec visit tourist destinations, thereby becoming at risk of @entity166 . Within a study of predictors of utilization of travel health consultation by travelers, knowledge about transmission and perception of risk and severity of some @entity166 was measured. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during winter 1999 on travelers 16 years of age and over going to Mexico and the Dominican Republic. A 34-item self-administered bilingual questionnaire was distributed to travelers during seven flights departing from Montr  al Airport. RESULTS: The questionnaires were completed by 1,724 passengers (response rate: 75%). The majority (81%) of the 1,416 travelers from the province of Qu  bec considered themselves at greater risk of @entity294 abroad. Risk perception was less important for @entity99 and B (44% and 41%, respectively). Most travelers considered @entity294 as slightly or not severe, and @entity99 as severe illnesses. A majority had adequate knowledge about transmission of @entity294 but knowledge concerning @entity99 was less accurate. In the multivariate analysis, the most important associations were noted between perception of risk of @entity294 and knowledge about transmission of @entity294 (odds ratio [OR] 3.2); and between perception of risk of @entity99 and perception of severity of @entity99 ( @entity99 : OR 3.9; @entity1956 : OR 5.9). Consultation in a travel clinic before departure was associated with perception of higher risk of @entity99 and of @entity166 in general (OR 2.1). CONCLUSION: Despite its limitations, this study indicates that travelers from Qu  bec, going to sun destinations, seem to underestimate their risk of @entity99 related to travel. Knowledge about transmission of @entity99 seems poor. Education of travelers about risks and modes of transmission of @entity166 should be reinforced. Travel health consultation before departure or for a previous trip appeared to be associated with higher risk perception.
