For app developers who are developing/implementing this kind of app, it is important to address standardization of the data source and users’ concerns about the confidentiality and safety of their mobile devices. Should the app be adopted for use by travelers to Thailand, it could have an impact on wider knowledge distribution, which might result in decreased exposure, increased prophylaxis, and therefore a potential decreased burden on the healthcare system. ThaiEpidemics is evidently potentially useful for travelers. Most participants searched for information for all 14 diseases some searched for information specifically about dengue and malaria. Regardless of age, education, and continent of origin, almost all e-survey respondents believed the app had raised their awareness of disease prevalence and status when travelling.
In all, 83 people installed the app, and 52 responded to the e-survey. The participants could access information for their current location and elsewhere in the country. The app provided users with functions and features to search for and visualize disease prevalence and status in Thailand. We based our prototype of ThaiEpidemics on a conceptualized framework for visualizing the distribution of 14 major diseases of concern to tourists in Southeast Asia. After the second log-in, the app prompted participants to complete an e-survey regarding their opinions and preferences related to their awareness of disease prevalence and status. The participants were informed that the app would collect usage and search logs related to their queries.
We conduced our study among visitors to the Travel Clinic in the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. As its data source, the app used weekly data from national disease-surveillance reports. The app was developed using the principle of mobile application development life cycle, for both iOS and Android. We aimed to assess the app’s usability in terms of engagement, search logs, and effectiveness among target users. We developed a mobile app, ThaiEpidemics, using cross-platform technology to provide information about disease prevalence and status for travelers to Thailand. Mobile devices can be an effective means for travelers to access information regarding disease prevalence in their planned destinations, potentially reducing the risk of exposure. The risk of disease is a key factor that travelers have identified when planning to travel abroad, as many people are concerned about getting sick.
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