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Larger Regional and Rural Areas in Victoria, Australia, Experience More Alcohol‐Related Injury Presentations at Emergency Departments
Author(s) -
Coomber Kerri,
Miller Peter G.,
Livingston Michael,
Xantidis Luke
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/jrh.12014
Subject(s) - metropolitan area , rural area , medicine , psychological intervention , alcohol consumption , injury prevention , environmental health , poison control , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , harm , geography , alcohol , nursing , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , political science , law
Abstract Purpose Alcohol consumption is higher in regional and rural areas compared to metropolitan locations, but it is unclear which areas suffer different levels of harm. The current study investigated the rates of alcohol‐related injury presentations at emergency departments (EDs) in Victoria, Australia, across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote areas, and within coastal locations. Methods Using ED injury presentations data for Victorian hospitals from June 1999 to June 2011, the trends in alcohol‐related injury rates over time were investigated. Findings Compared to metropolitan locations, alcohol‐related injuries were higher in larger regional and rural areas and similar in small rural towns. The rates of alcohol‐related injuries are also significantly increasing over time for regional and rural locations. Lastly, for males, rates of alcohol‐related injuries increased in coastal areas during November to February compared to the remaining months. Conclusions Regional and coastal areas experience increased alcohol‐related injury rates. The causes of this have yet to be investigated and future research is required to determine why and what interventions may be most effective at reducing these harms.