Italian Medical professionals Practices, Attitudes and Knowledge in Travel medicine (IMPAKT): a national survey protocol (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Introduction: The evolving global health landscape highlights the importance of travel medicine, making it necessary for healthcare professionals to understand the epidemiologic profiles among varied traveler populations and keep themselves updated in this rapidly changing field. However, in Italy, travel medicine clinics have significant gaps in resource allocation, staff training, and infrastructure. This is the protocol of a cross-sectional study that aims to create and validate a questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals in travel medicine in Italy. The final goal is to provide a tool to evaluate the state of travel medicine, guide training initiatives, and monitor trends over time. Methods: The study population consists of healthcare professionals who practice travel medicine in Italy. The questionnaire will be developed by adapting an existing English survey and conducting a scoping review to align the questionnaire with contemporary scientific discourse. The validation process includes face validity, content validity, and expert evaluation. The sample size, determined through power analysis, ranges from 218 to 278 participants. The questionnaire will undergo a pilot test on a smaller sample size (10% of the total) to identify and address any issues. Statistical analysis will include central tendency and dispersion measures, categorical summaries, group comparisons, and regressions. This research received ethical approval and informed consent will be collected from all participants. Discussion: This cross-sectional study will guide strategic planning and targeting training and awareness activities in areas deemed most critical or lacking. The study's structured approach and periodic assessments will facilitate the identification of educational gaps, the dissemination of best practices, and the overall improvement of healthcare services for travelers in Italy.