The ITIT study was just featured on a new and exciting podcast “Travel Unravelled” from the International Society for Travel Medicine (ISTM). Listen to the podcast here, or click the link below!
https://learning.istm.org/episode-6-itit-illness-tracking-app
This latest ITIT study, published in BMJ Open, sheds light on the prevalence of traveller-related illnesses, which are more frequent than many realize.
Click here to read the study and learn more: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/7/e083065
The ITIT study is transforming the way travel-related illnesses are monitored and managed. By harnessing mobile technology, ITIT captures an accurate, real-time picture of these illnesses, providing crucial data for outbreak detection and the development of travel health guidelines. Participation in the ITIT study could help revolutionize travel health, leading to safer and healthier journeys for everyone. Ready to make a difference? Every participant counts. Please take part and download the app today!
The paper “Infection Tracking in Travellers Using a Mobile App (ITIT): The Pilot Study” has been accepted by the journal New Microbes New Infections, and will be available online soon.
Infection Tracking in Travellers Using A Mobile App (ITIT) : The Pilot Study
Nadja Hedricha, Thibault Loveya, Esther Künzlib, Gilles Epéronc ,Ulf Blanked, Blaise Gentone, Andrea Farnhamab, Mika Kawanof, Patricia Schlagenhaufag
Background:
Current surveillance of travellers’ health is top-down and captures only a small proportion of illness events. We aimed to evaluate the usability and feasibility of the ITIT app for travellers to self report illness.
Materials and methods:
This pilot study assesses a novel mobile application called Illness Tracking in Travellers (ITIT) that records travel-related symptoms with associated geolocation and weather data. Participants were recruited in three Swiss travel clinics between December 2021 and March 2022. A feedback survey was used to examine app ease of use and detailed feedback from participants, and data from the app was used to examine travel and illness patterns as a proof-of-concept for the larger ITIT study.
Results:
63 participants were recruited from Zürich, Basel, and Geneva, of which 37 completed at least one daily questionnaire. A total of 394 questionnaires were completed in 116 locations in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, including 6 participants from the Beijing Olympics. 41 % of participants reported at least one illness symptom, 67% of which were respiratory. The post travel questionnaire showed that 63% of users used the country information tool and accessed outbreak alerts. All participants found the app easy to use and 63% said they would recommend it to others. Several users provided suggestions for improved usability.
Conclusion:
The app fulfilled its function as a research tool linking infection symptoms with geolocation and climate data. Certain improvements including a personalised travel and symptom itinerary will be implemented in the final version of the app for release in April 2022.
After the successful completion of the pilot project, recruitment for the full ITIT project has started in Switzerland, Berlin, Amsterdam, Marseilles, and more!
More than 250 participants have already shared their journeys throughout the globe.
Download the ITIT app today, and take part on your next trip!
The ITIT Pilot study has finished recruiting, and is getting feedback from participants to further improve app usability and performance! Over 50 participants travelling throughout the globe have taken part. The study results will be disseminated at the NECTM 8 conference in Rotterdam in June 2022. See https://mkon.nu/nectm_8 for more information.
The ITIT Team will be presenting the ITIT pilot study at the Northern European Conference for Travel Medicine (NECTM) in Rotterdam in June! See https://mkon.nu/nectm_8 for more info!
The ITIT app is officially launched! Download it on your Apple or Android device from the App store!
See the Start page for links to download.
The first paper associated with the ITIT project was published in the September-October issue of Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease! Learn more about it in the Publications tab.
