The quality of travel clinics in the Netherlands.

Background: In 1996, the Dutch National Coordination Center for Travelers' Health Advice (LCR) was established to improve uniformity in health advice to travelers and in the quality of national vaccination centers. In this study, we evaluate the influence of LCR guidelines on the quality of travel clinics in the Netherlands.

Methods: In 1997 and 2001, questionnaires regarding implementation of LCR quality criteria were sent to the Dutch travel clinics where most travel advice is given. In 2003, the Health Care Inspectorate surveyed all Dutch yellow fever vaccination centers including those surveyed in 1997 and 2001. The data yielded by all three surveys were included in our assessment.

Results: The response rate was 78, 84, and 100% in 1997, 2001, and 2003, respectively. Between 1997 and 2001, the number of travel clinics with 5,000 visitors or more increased. The LCR quality criteria are widely implemented: of the criteria surveyed in this study, 11/14 (79%) were implemented in more than 80% of the clinics in 2003. Between 1997 and 2003, vaccine management improved (eg, registration of batch numbers and monitoring of refrigerators); in more clinics, physicians were present in case of emergency and advice given by nurses was more often checked daily, but this is still only in 52% of the travel clinics. Although two thirds of the professionals working in travel medicine are nurses, only 55% of them were adequately trained in this specialty.

Conclusions: Between 1997 and 2003, the LCR quality guidelines are widely implemented, but implementation can still be improved. To further improve the quality of travel clinic staff, the LCR recently started certification of basic and refresher courses for physicians and nurses working in travel medicine and now registers those completing such courses.