An overview of Travel Medicine as a specialty area of practice covering the principles of preparing the intending traveller with a focus on prevention, and a detailed knowledge of vaccine preventable illness and travel vaccines.
This paper introduces the student to an overview of and the underlying principles of travel medicine. This includes accessing travel medicine resources to ensure that the practitioner remains up to date in this ever-expanding and changing field of clinical medicine. The paper covers pre-travel risk assessment and the underlying principles of preparing the intending traveller and the pre-travel consultation. The paper also covers Covid-19-related travel concerns and provides detailed knowledge on vaccine-preventable illnesses and travel vaccines, including prescribing and administration. We encourage the participation of all health professionals who may have an interest in travel medicine.
| Paper title | Travel Medicine 1: Introductory Concepts |
|---|---|
| Paper code | GENA713 |
| Subject | General Practice |
| EFTS | 0.25 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $3,018.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- GENX 713, 715
- Limited to
- PGCertTravMed, PGDipTravMed, PGCertGP, PGDipGP, PGDipPHC, PGDipRPHP
- Notes
- Includes residential period/s.
- Eligibility
Suitable for health professionals from a range of disciplines.
Enrolments for this paper are limited and it requires departmental permission. View more information about limitations of enrolment.
- Contact
- More information link
- View further information on Postgraduate Study in Primary Health Care
- Teaching staff
Co-Convenors: Dr Jenny Visser
Claire Wong- Paper Structure
Core paper for the Postgraduate Certificate in Travel Medicine (PGCertTravMed).
Core paper for the Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Medicine (PGDipTravMed).
Elective Paper for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care (PGDipPHC).Material is presented in self-directed learning modules covering the following topics:
- Overview of travel medicine
- Travel medicine resources
- Preparing the intending traveller
- Covid-19 and Travel
- Travel vaccines: the basics
- Routine vaccines and travel
- Recommended travel vaccines
- Required travel vaccines
- Teaching Arrangements
This Distance Learning paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching.
The in-person component is a two-day block course held on-campus in Wellington (dates to be confirmed). The block course may be delivered online via Zoom depending on pandemic restrictions.
Other teaching, including regular evening sessions and one half day session, is delivered via Blackboard and online via Zoom.
Study skills, technology support and resources are provided to students via a custom built site accessed through Blackboard.
- Textbooks
All readings are available for access, free of charge, via Blackboard or other online resources.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Communication.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Please also refer to the Department of Primary Health Care & General Practice Graduate Profile. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper should have:
- An understanding of what travel medicine encompasses and the extent and type of modern travel and its hazards
- Knowledge of important disease monitoring sites and methods and an understanding of emerging infectious diseases
- An understanding of the epidemiology of travel-related risks
- An appreciation of the range of advice that all intending travellers require
- An understanding of the importance of utilising the interprofessional team in preparing the intending traveller
- An understanding of basic vaccine immunology, including the different types of vaccines
- An understanding of vaccine trials and how to interpret them
- The ability to schedule vaccines and understand the principles of vaccine storage and administration
- The ability to rationalise the prescribing of pre-travel vaccines to the individual traveller
- The ability to advise individual travellers on the appropriate use of specific routine, required, and recommended travel vaccinations
