Are HIV Infected People Well Prepared to Travel? Polish Experience

Introduction: This study aimed to identify knowledge about preparation for travel among Polish HIV infected patients. Materials and Methods: Our prospective questionnaire-based study assessed whether the abovementioned issues had an influence on travel plan decisions and whether HIV infected Polish people had any problems before and during travel. Results: All our 102 patients completed questionnaires. The majority sought pre-travel health advice. The mean duration of confirmed HIV infection was longer in travelers than in non-travelers (p = 0.02). More than half of travelers consulted with a physician prior to their journey but the most popular source of in-formation about the health risks of travelling was the internet while a doctor’s consultation was an alternative. Pre-travel prophylaxis was performed in less than 30% of patients. One of the most popular reasons for not travelling abroad was inadequate funds. Discussion: The situation of people with HIV in Poland is similar to that in other European countries. None of our patients had to give up their trip because of administrative barriers. HIV infected persons with a longer duration of infection were more willing to travel. One of the most popular reasons for not travelling abroad was inadequate funds. Among our patients, those afraid of potential health risks and inadequate funds are in the same proportion as in other countries. Conclusions: In our opinion, physicians should talk with HIV positive patients about their travel plans during routine visits. Polish HIV infected patients generally do not restrict their travel plans due to their HIV infection. The main sources of information for Polish HIV infected patients about possible problems during travel should be their doctor and additionally other sources of information like the internet.