Exploring Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices On Travel Medicine In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study evaluates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of travel medicine among physicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, highlighting its importance in preparing travelers for potential health issues. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians working at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from May to October 2023. A validated self-administered electronic questionnaire consisting of demographic data and questions to test KAP levels was distributed to the participants. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 103 physicians, predominantly male (69.9%) and Saudi (96.1%), with a mean age of 28.98 years and an average of 4.12 years of experience. Most held bachelor's degrees (57.7%). The total knowledge score averaged 100.12 out of 215, the attitude score averaged 32.53 out of 45, and the practice score averaged 15.10 out of 30. Significant associations were found between total knowledge scores and age, educational level, position, and years of experience (p= 0.015, <0.001, 0.002, and 0.004, respectively). Gender, educational level, and department significantly impacted attitude scores (p= 0.023, 0.011, and 0.045, respectively). Educational level and department also significantly influenced practice scores (p= 0.011 and 0.016, respectively). Conclusion: Our study reveals a suboptimal level of knowledge and practice with a positive attitude towards travel medicine among physicians at KAUH. These findings suggest the need to integrate travel medicine as a formal medical education and training program.