Pilot use of a novel smartphone application to track traveller health behaviour and collect infectious disease data during a mass gathering: Hajj pilgrimage 2014. Issue 3 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alqahtani, Amani S.; BinDhim, Nasser F.; Tashani, Mohamed; Willaby, Harold W.; Wiley, Kerrie E.; Heywood, Anita E.; Booy, Robert; Rashid, Harunor
• Is Part Of: Journal of epidemiology and global health. Volume 6:Issue 3(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: App -- Hajj -- Infectious disease -- Mass gathering -- Smartphone -- Traveller; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; World health -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Communicable Disease Control -- Periodicals; World Health -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2015.07.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6014

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the feasibility of using a smartphone application (app) to conduct surveys among travellers during the Hajj pilgrimage, where the use of apps has not been evaluated for infectious disease surveillance. A longitudinal study was conducted among pilgrims at the Hajj 2014 using an iPhone app with separate questionnaires for three study phases covering before, during, and after Hajj. Forty-eight pilgrims from 13 countries downloaded the app. Respondents were aged between 21 and 61 (median 36) years and 58.5% (24/41) were male. Of these, 85% (41/48) completed the first phase, 52% (25/41) completed both the second and third phases, and 25 of these reported meningococcal vaccination, with 36% (9/25) receiving other vaccines. All (25) reported hand hygiene use and 64% (16/25) wore a facemask at some point during the pilgrimage. Four (6%) reported close contact with camels. Respiratory symptoms commenced from the 4th day of Hajj, with sore throat (20%) and cough (12%) being the most common. Three participants (12%) reported respiratory symptoms after returning home. Conducting a prospective survey using a smartphone app to collect data on travel-associated infections and traveller compliance to prevention is feasible at mass gatherings and can provide useful data associated with health-related behaviour.