Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice of Travel Medicine Among Primary Healthcare Physicians at Al Wizarat Primary Health Care Centers in Saudi Arabia

Background: The rapid growth of international travel has increased travelers’ exposure to infectious diseases and other health risks, making pre-travel health counseling an essential component of primary health care. Primary healthcare physicians (PHCPs) are often the first point of contact for travelers; however, evidence from regional and international studies suggests variability in physicians’ knowledge and preparedness in travel medicine. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of primary healthcare physicians toward travel medicine at Al-Wizarat Primary Health Care Centers in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitude levels. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among PHCPs using a structured, self-administered questionnaire based on international travel medicine guidelines. Simple random sampling was applied. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge related to key travel medicine domains (vaccination, malaria prevention, traveler’s diarrhea, and COVID-19 precautions), and attitudes toward travel counseling. Knowledge and attitude scores were categorized as poor, moderate, or good. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: A total of 147 physicians participated. Overall, 57.8% demonstrated good knowledge and 67.3% showed good attitudes toward travel medicine, with 68.7% achieving a good combined score. While most physicians correctly identified appropriate prevention for traveler’s diarrhea (90.5%), major gaps were observed in malaria prevention, with 72.8% incorrectly recommending vaccination instead of chemoprophylaxis. Recognition of yellow fever vaccine contraindications was incomplete, particularly regarding pregnancy (40.1%) and age under nine months (22.4%). Good knowledge was significantly associated with male gender, updating knowledge on travel medicine, and reliance on Ministry of Health guidelines. A weak but significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude scores (ρ = 0.18, p = 0.027). Conclusion: Although PHCPs demonstrated positive attitudes toward travel medicine, important knowledge gaps persist, particularly in malaria prevention and vaccine contraindications. Targeted training and strengthened guideline dissemination are recommended to enhance the quality of travel health services in primary care.