UNAIR NEWS 鈥 Rima Palestine Salsabila, a student at 东京热鈥檚 Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences (FIKKIA), has brought her research in travel medicine to an international audience. She presented her study at the International Student Congress of (bio)Medical Sciences (ISCOMS), held at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands from June 1 to 4, 2026.
Her research focused on the health conditions and safety management of tourists hiking in the Ijen Crater area of Banyuwangi. The study was conducted in collaboration with dr. Husada Tsalitsa Mardiansyah, dr. Ivan Rahmatullah, MPH, PhD, and dr. Muhammad Nazmuddin, MSc. Salsabila said the project was inspired by observations she made during a field trip and site visits in the Paltuding area of Ijen Crater.
鈥淚 never expected the abstract to be accepted. My initial goal was simply to improve my scientific writing skills and gain research experience, but it was eventually selected for the poster presentation session at an international conference,鈥 Salsabila said.
Addressing need for travel medicine
Salsabila鈥檚 interest in the subject grew after witnessing firsthand the health risks faced by visitors in hiking areas during her fieldwork at Ijen Crater. She noted that while nature tourism continues to attract increasing numbers of visitors, awareness of the importance of health preparation before hiking remains limited. 鈥淚ndonesia is home to many stunning volcanic hiking destinations because it sits along the Ring of Fire. However, many travelers still underestimate the importance of preparing their health before embarking on these hikes,鈥 she said.
Motivated by these observations, Salsabila and her team, together with their supervisors, designed a study examining the implementation of pre-hiking health screenings and medical consultations for hikers. Drawing on field data and extensive discussions, the researchers developed an abstract that was accepted for presentation at ISCOMS 2026. Their findings highlighted ongoing gaps in both access to and implementation of safety information for hiking tourists.
鈥淥ur research shows that pre-hiking health screenings can play a critical role in preventing emergency situations that could otherwise be avoided,鈥 said the medical student.
Based on the findings, the team recommended strengthening health screening systems and integrating them into hiking permit procedures. They also proposed adopting digital tools such as smartwatches and point-of-care testing technologies, along with providing more comprehensive health-risk information to travelers.
鈥淚 hope this research can serve as a foundation for the further development of travel medicine in Indonesia while helping improve health and safety standards at natural tourism destinations,鈥 she said.
Gaining experience through an international forum
For Salsabila, ISCOMS marked her first experience conducting research, designing a scientific poster, and presenting her work before an international audience. One of the biggest challenges she faced was overcoming nervousness and limited experience while engaging with master鈥檚 and doctoral students, as well as experts in global health.
鈥淚 was extremely nervous before the presentation started. But once I began speaking to the audience, I gradually became more comfortable and was able to explain my research with greater confidence,鈥 she said.
Beyond presenting her research, Salsabila participated in a range of workshops covering topics such as artificial intelligence in healthcare, sustainable research practices, and clinical skills development. 鈥淚 hope to share what I learned with fellow students on campus and continue promoting the growth of travel medicine in Indonesia to help enhance health and safety in tourism,鈥 she said.
Author: Dheva Yudistira Maulana
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
