Electronic consultations with Video Supported PowerPoint versus in-clinic face-to-face, pre-travel consultations: A single-centre, comparative analysis

Background: Pretravel consultation involves a face-to-face visit with a Travel Medicine expert and includes time consuming educating/counseling. Efficacy of electronic consultations for pretravel is unknown. We compared pretravel education via face-to-face consult to an electronic consultations combined with education via Video Supported PowerPoint for select travelers. Methods: We conducted a prospective trial comparing pre-travel education via electronic consultations versus face-to-face consult. Study was conducted from May 2014 through May 2015. Results: Pretravel surveys were completed by 100 in electronic consult arm and 94 in face-to-face consult arm; 67/100 (67%) in the electronic consult and 51/94 (54.2%) in the face-to-face group completed post-travel surveys. Both groups had similar baseline demographics. 36.2% of the face-to-face group felt the trip preparation could have effectively been accomplished through electronic consult, while 33% felt that a face-to-face consult was needed; in contrast, a majority (63.3%) of electronic consult group preferred the electronic consult. Pretravel education effectiveness was similar in both groups. No statistically significant differences in responses were noted in both groups to 5 of the 6 knowledge assessment questions. A higher proportion (76/100; 76%) in the electronic consult group compared to 55.4% (51/94) (p = 0.0018) in face-to-face group chose the correct response regarding management of febrile bloody diarrhea. 53% reported behavior change to prevent travel related illnesses, with no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: electronic consultation with Video Supported PowerPoint pre-travel education is as effective as education via face-to-face consultations and provides a viable alternative to face-to-face consultations in select travelers.