A transformative experience: Travel as a public health education tool

Background: Travel to foreign countries is an effective tool for learning about and experiencing public health issues globally and, for students, is associated with personal and professional development and improved cultural sensitivity. The Institute of Medicine observes that effective public health policy must take into account ever-increasing globalization. International ollaborations can be crucial to successfully carrying out the ten essential public health services.

Description: Graduate public health nursing students traveled to Australia to learn about and ultimately compare and contrast that country's public health and acute health care systems and policies with the United States (U.S.). The ten-day trip included visits to an aboriginal clinic, hospital, community and outpatient settings, and lectures by public health, medical and nursing professionals and educators.

Lessons learned: By traveling to Australia, the students had the opportunity to learn first hand about unique public health successes and challenges within the cultural, geographic, political and economic context of that country. For example, in contrast to the U.S., Australia's federal government produces social marketing campaigns that have been successful in reducing sun exposure, injection drug-associated infections and tobacco use. Similar to the U.S., rates of obesity in Australia have risen dramatically over the past 12 years.

Recommendations: Public health and acute health care practices and policies from both the U.S. and Australia can be instructive under particular circumstances. Graduate public health nursing students traveling to other countries increases understanding of and collaborations with those countries, which could lead to improved public health policies.