Campus Units
Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
8-19-2013
Journal or Book Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
10
Issue
8
First Page
3684
Last Page
3714
DOI
10.3390/ijerph10083684
Abstract
During 2009–2010, a total of 1,527 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013). However, in a 2011 CDC report, Scallanet al. estimated about 48 million people contract a foodborne illness annually in the United States. Public health officials are concerned with this under-reporting; thus, the purpose of this study was to identify why consumers and healthcare professionals don’t report foodborne illness. Focus groups were conducted with 35 consumers who reported a previous experience with foodborne illness and with 16 healthcare professionals. Also, interviews with other healthcare professionals with responsibility of diagnosing foodborne illness were conducted. Not knowing who to contact, being too ill, being unsure of the cause, and believing reporting would not be beneficial were all identified by consumers as reasons for not reporting foodborne illness. Healthcare professionals that participated in the focus groups indicated the amount of time between patients’ consumption of food and seeking treatment and lack of knowledge were barriers to diagnosing foodborne illness. Issues related to stool samples such as knowledge, access and cost were noted by both groups. Results suggest that barriers identified could be overcome with targeted education and improved access and information about the reporting process.
Copyright Owner
MDPI
Copyright Date
2013
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Arendt, Susan W.; Rajagopal, Lakshman; Strohbehn, Catherine H.; Stokes, Nathan; Meyer, Janell R.; and Mandernach, Steven, "Reporting of Foodborne Illness by U.S. Consumers and Healthcare Professionals" (2013). Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management Publications. 112.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/aeshm_pubs/112
Included in
Food Science Commons, Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons
Comments
This article is published as Arendt, S.; Rajagopal, L.; Strohbehn, C.; Stokes, N.; Meyer, J.; Mandernach, S. Reporting of Foodborne Illness by U.S. Consumers and Healthcare Professionals. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 3684-3714.Doi: 10.3390/ijerph10083684. Posted with permission.