Citation

Mitchell RJ, Williamson A, Chung AZ. Asia Pac. J. Public Health 2011; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1010539511422375

PMID

21984363

Abstract

This article compares the epidemiological profile of injury-related hospitalized morbidity of international tourists in New South Wales (NSW) with the hospitalized injury profile of NSW residents. Injury-related hospitalizations were identified from the NSW Admitted Patients Data Collection during 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2009. Injuries were identified using a principal diagnosis code of injury (ie, ICD-10-AM range S00-T98) and the presence of an external cause code (ie, ICD-10-AM range V00-Y98). Overseas tourists were more likely to be hospitalized for an injury following air and water transport, near-drowning, and pedestrian-related injuries. Sport or leisure-related activities were the most common activity conducted at the time of the incident. International tourists are at a higher risk of experiencing injuries particularly following recreational pursuits, while as a pedestrian, in vehicle crashes for older age groups, as a result of interpersonal violence for young males, and following a poisoning or cut/pierce injury for young females. Prevention measures should be undertaken to limit the incidence of injury among international tourists, particularly during active recreational activities and while using the roadways.

Language: en