Global Perceptions of the Term “Tropical Medicine”: Results from a Cross-Regional Multilingual Survey

The term "tropical medicine" has sparked many discussions on its appropriateness because of its colonial history. The aim of this study was to analyze perceptions of the term among international medical professionals. An open online survey, conducted between August 2023 and September 2024, was distributed via professional networks and social media. Of 590 respondents from 66 countries, 80% were employed in the global north. Participants employed in the global south associated "tropical medicine" more with a geographical connotation (77/85 versus 346/471, P <0.001). Only 21% saw the need to replace the term, with stigmatization (35%) mentioned as a major association. Free-text responses showed varying perceptions. Some respondents pointed out that replacing the term is not sufficient to achieve "genuine change". The study's results raise the question whether a change in terminology can act as a driver of decolonization, stressing that the need for structural reforms is far more important.