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Miller L, Franklin RC, Watt K, Leggat PA. Travel-weary to travel-worry: the epidemiology of injury-related traveller deaths in Australia, 2006-2017. Aust N Z J Public Health 2022; 46:407-414. [PMID: 35298075 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore injury deaths in international and domestic interstate travellers, together with those newly arrived to Australia. METHODS A population-based cohort study of all injury-related deaths between 1January 2006 and 31 December 2017 registered with Births Death and Marriages in Australia was conducted using Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Cause of Death information. Population data on travellers were obtained from Tourism Research Australia. RESULTS There were 4,503 injury-related traveller deaths (domestic interstate:3,055; international:934; new arrivals:514). The average annual age-standardised mortality rates in domestic interstate travellers was 0.75 per 100,000, compared with 2.22 per 100,000 in international travellers. Leading causes of injury-related death were land transport incidents (n=1495, 33.2%), self-harm (n=786, 17.5%) and falls (n=513, 11.4%), with differences in mechanism by state/territory, traveller type and age group. Intentional self-harm was common amongst all visitor types, however, it was the primary cause of death in new arrivals Conclusion: Age-standardised mortality rates were almost three-fold higher in international than domestic travellers. New arrivals, international and domestic travellers have different injury profiles, and each require specific prevention strategies. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH While COVID has restricted travel to and within Australia, this has provided an opportunity for exploration, reflection, and consideration of risk factors for travellers, and to develop targeted injury prevention strategies for visitor types, so travel experience can be optimised and the magnitude of harm can be reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Miller
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland
| | - Richard C Franklin
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland
| | - Kerrianne Watt
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland
| | - Peter A Leggat
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland
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Fong EKK, Pell LG, Faress A, Nguyen JH, Ma XW, Lam RE, Louch D, Science ME, Morris SK. Adherence to recommendations at a Canadian tertiary care Family Travel Clinic - A single centre analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020; 34:101579. [PMID: 32074482 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious and non-infectious risks associated with international travel can be reduced with adherence to pre-travel advice from practitioners trained in travel medicine. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care children's hospital to assess adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis, safe water and food consumption, mosquito bite protection, motor vehicle safety and travel vaccines using structured questionnaires. High risk groups assessed included child travelers and those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). RESULTS In total, 290 participants (133 children and 157 adults) were enrolled and completed at least one study questionnaire. In general, with the exception of vaccines, adherence to recommendations was sub-optimal. Among children and adults, adherence to malaria prophylaxis recommendations was lower in VFRs than in non-VFRs. The proportion of children VFRs (cVFRs) and adult VFRs (aVFRs) who adhered to the following recommendations were malaria chemoprophylaxis (47%, 33%), safe water (71%, 74%) and food recommendations (18%, 6%), insect bite avoidance (21%, 12%), and motor vehicle safety (13%, 11%) respectively. Adherence to recommended vaccines uptake was greater than 90% in all groups. CONCLUSION With the exception of vaccine uptake, sub-optimal adherence levels to travel recommendations was identified in all groups, and in particular VFRs, highlighting the need for proactive discussions around barriers to adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K K Fong
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Lisa G Pell
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ahmed Faress
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jenny Hoang Nguyen
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xiao Wei Ma
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ray E Lam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Debra Louch
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michelle E Science
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Shaun K Morris
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Examining Ironic Processes in Tourist Drivers: Driving on the Unfamiliar Side of the Road. SAFETY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/safety4030028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Abstract
The increasing international mobility raises the possibility of foreign nationals dying abroad. Here, a descriptive, retrospective and population-based study of deaths abroad among Finnish residents from 1969 to 2007 is presented. The data were collected from the Statistics Finland data based on certificates of cause of death issued after repatriation of the corpse and after review of medical documents or a medico-legal autopsy. The frequency of injury deaths, proportional mortality rates (PMRs) and mortality risk estimates (MREs) were measured. During the study period, 6894 Finnish residents died abroad. Spain, Sweden and Thailand were the top three destination countries for number of deaths, accounting together for 40.3% of all the deaths. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common cause of deaths. The overall injury deaths represented 26.7% of all deaths abroad and occurred at a higher proportion than in Finland (PMR: 3.3). The most common injury deaths were traffic accident and drowning, which together represented more than 50% of all unintentional injury deaths. High PMRs were found for traffic accidents in Russia, Germany and the US and for drowning in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey. The MRE for injury deaths was 73.5 per 100,000 person-years of exposure. Finnish travellers abroad are a population subgroup with a high risk of injury death. Common travel health interventions must be backed by actions to prevent injuries abroad, particularly traffic accident and drowning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Lunetta
- Hjelt Institute, Department of Forensic Medicine, & National Institute for Health and Welfare, Injury Prevention Unit, Helsinki, Finland.
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Pavli A, Maltezou HC. Travelling to Greece for the summer 2011 Special Olympics. Travel Med Infect Dis 2011; 9:135-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2011.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Revised: 03/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Rosselló J, Saenz-de-Miera O. Road accidents and tourism: the case of the Balearic Islands (Spain). ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2011; 43:675-683. [PMID: 21376854 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2009] [Revised: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/13/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The increase in the number of tourists for many destinations and their increased mobility within host countries or regions has implied a rise in tourism-associated externalities, with vehicle crashes as the most common cause of injury for tourists. Within the transport literature, the number and variation in the amount of accidents has been related to a large set of determining variables, including weather conditions, socio-economic characteristics, exposure, physical characteristics of the road and a variety of dummies that try to capture effects such as safety laws and seasonal variations. However, the presence of tourism has been neglected. Using the case study of the Balearic Islands, the present study estimates the role of tourism in determining the number of accidents in a daily context, using the set of variables suggested by the literature and incorporating a daily measure for the stock of tourists at a host destination. Results show how tourism can be associated with a significant amount of the accidents that take place in the Balearics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Rosselló
- Centre de Recerca Econòmica, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
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Goldoni Laestadius J, Selod AG, Ye J, Dimberg L, Bliss AG. Can business road travel be safe? Experience of an international organization. J Travel Med 2011; 18:73-9. [PMID: 21366789 DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2010.00491.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, more than 1.2 million people die on the roads every year, and unfortunately so do one or two operational travelers for the World Bank Group (WBG). METHODS To investigate potentially preventable factors and improve the institution's road safety policies and practices, an electronic survey was designed in 2008 targeting about 16,000 WBG staff worldwide to inquire about road crashes and near crashes over the 3-year period. Also, questions were asked pertaining to contributing circumstances. Staff was encouraged to provide comments on prevention. A combined index based on the number of reported crashes and near crashes divided by person-days spent on mission in each country was used to rank the countries. RESULTS A total of 3,760 responses were collected. There were 341 road crashes reported, about 1 in 175 missions. Seventy percent took place in taxis, and 40% of crash victims reported that seatbelts were not used. Contributing factors included driver's decision error, speeding, or road/weather conditions. On the basis of a combined index, a list of 36 high-risk countries is presented. A high correlation between crashes and near crashes (r = 0.89) justifies the method. CONCLUSIONS Improved corporate policies will need to be developed to address preventable risk factors identified in the study.
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Heggie TW. Traveling to Canada for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Travel Med Infect Dis 2009; 7:207-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2009] [Revised: 03/13/2009] [Accepted: 03/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Injuries are a public health problem affecting traveling populations such as tourists visiting National Parks. This study investigates the distribution of visitor fatalities in US National Park Service (NPS) units and identifies the predeath activities and contributing factors associated with them. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted of visitor fatalities from all NPS units during 2003 and 2004. RESULTS There were 356 reported fatalities during 2003 and 2004. Fatalities were most common during the summer months and on weekends. Males accounted for 75% of the reported fatalities, and visitors aged 20 to 29 and 50 to 59 years accounted for 51% of all deaths. Only 99 of 388 (26%) NPS units reported at least 1 fatality, and only 10 units reported 10 or more fatalities. However, these 10 units were responsible for 36% of all fatalities. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Blue Ridge Parkway, Grand Canyon National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Yosemite National Park reported the highest number of fatalities. Domestic visitors accounted for 73% of the fatalities, and European visitors accounted for 13%. Transportation and water-based activities recorded the highest number of fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes accounted for 20% of fatalities and was followed by suicide (17%), swimming (11%), hiking (10%), plane crashes (9%), climbing (6%), and boating (5%) incidents. CONCLUSIONS Fatalities in NPS units are not widespread and are related to more common events such as motor vehicle crashes, suicide, swimming, and hiking rather than exotic causes such as bears or other wildlife. It is recommended that preventive techniques first be developed in the 10 NPS units responsible for 36% of the total NPS-wide fatalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis W Heggie
- Recreation & Tourism Studies Program, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan M Spira
- Travel Medicine Center, Beverly Hills, California, USA.
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Soteriades ES, Hadjichristodoulou C, Kremastinou J, Chelvatzoglou FC, Minogiannis PS, Falagas ME. Health promotion programs related to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic games. BMC Public Health 2006; 6:47. [PMID: 16504120 PMCID: PMC1397814 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2005] [Accepted: 02/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Olympic Games constitute a first-class opportunity to promote athleticism and health messages. Little is known, however on the impact of Olympic Games on the development of health-promotion programs for the general population. Our objective was to identify and describe the population-based health-promotion programs implemented in relation to the Athens 2004 Olympic and Para Olympic Games. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of all stakeholders of the Games, including the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, all ministries of the Greek government, the National School of Public Health, all municipalities hosting Olympic events and all official private sponsors of the Games, was conducted after the conclusion of the Games. RESULTS A total of 44 agencies were surveyed, 40 responded (91%), and ten (10) health-promotion programs were identified. Two programs were implemented by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, 2 from the Greek ministries, 2 from the National School of Public Health, 1 from municipalities, and 3 from official private sponsors of the Games. The total cost of the programs was estimated at 943,000 Euros; a relatively small fraction (0.08%) of the overall cost of the Games. CONCLUSION Greece has made a small, however, significant step forward, on health promotion, in the context of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee and the future hosting countries, including China, are encouraged to elaborate on this idea and offer the world a promising future for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elpidoforos S Soteriades
- Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
- Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health in Association with Harvard School of Public Health, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
| | - Christos Hadjichristodoulou
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
- National School of Public Health – Olympic Planning Unit (OPU), Athens, Greece
| | - Jeni Kremastinou
- National School of Public Health – Olympic Planning Unit (OPU), Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Matthew E Falagas
- Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Heggie TW. Reported fatal and non-fatal incidents involving tourists in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 1992-2002. Travel Med Infect Dis 2004; 3:123-31. [PMID: 17292030 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2004.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2004] [Revised: 09/24/2004] [Accepted: 09/27/2004] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To examine fatal and non-fatal incidents involving tourists in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Methods. Official press releases from the public relations office at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were examined for reports of fatal and non-fatal incidents involving tourists. Results. Between 1992 and 2002 there were 65 press releases reporting 40 fatalities, 45 serious injuries, 53 minor injuries, and 25 no injury events. Severity information was unavailable for four additional tourists. Aircraft and backcountry incidents each accounted for 30% of all incidents followed by road incidents (22%) and frontcountry incidents (17%). Aircraft incidents reported 17 fatalities, backcountry incidents accounted for 10 fatalities, frontcountry incidents reported seven fatalities, and road incidents totaled six fatalities. One fatality was classified as a suicide. Backcountry (23) and road (10) incidents had the highest number of serious incidents. Male tourists (62) were more frequently involved in incidents than female tourists (41) and tourists aged 20-29 years and 40-49 years accounted for the highest number of fatalities and total incidents. Conclusions. Helicopter tours, hiking in areas with active lava flows, falls into steam vents and earthcracks, and driving unfamiliar rental cars in unfamiliar locations are the major activities resulting in death and serious injury. Additional factors such as tourists ignoring warning signs, wandering off-trail or hiking at night, tourists misinformed by guidebooks and other tourists, and tourists with pre-existing heart and asthma conditions are contributing causes in many incidents. The findings of this study provide information that allows prospective tourists, tourism managers, and travel health providers make informed decisions that promote safe tourism and can aid future efforts in developing preventative strategies at tourist destinations with similar environments and activities. However, in order for preventative strategies to be most effective, future research using medical or emergency response records and employing an injury epidemiology framework that identifies the cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis W Heggie
- Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2261, USA
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Leggat PA, Shaw MTM. From Sydney to Athens: preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Travel Med Infect Dis 2003; 1:201-3. [PMID: 17291918 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2003.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2003] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Leggat
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Travel health risks documented by questionnaire surveys obtained (e.g., during homebound flights) are incomplete since they miss most patients who need to be repatriated. METHODS All patient claim files were reviewed from 1997 to 1998, of the largest Swiss travel insurance company. RESULTS Among 242 claims, 69.4% were due to illness, 30.6% due to accidents; infections were the most frequent illnesses, the extremities were the most frequently traumatized part of the body. Although the illness-to-accident ratio was 1:5 in industrialized countries and the Caribbean, it exceeded 3:0 in some developing regions. Accident proneness was noted in the first week abroad. CONCLUSION Even if no denominator data are available, this analysis offers an insight in travel health risks, allowing comparison of the occurrences of very different, serious, health problems abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rea A Somer Kniestedt
- Travel Clinic, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University, Zurich, Switzerland
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Abstract
The four steps for giving travellers the foundation for healthy journeys are to assess their health, analyse their itineraries, select vaccines, and provide education about prevention and self-treatment of travel-related diseases. This process takes time. Since there is a risk of information overload, travellers should leave the clinic with some written advice for reinforcement. The order of these steps can be tailored to what best suits the travel clinic, but vaccinating early in the process allows monitoring for adverse reactions. Face-to-face discussion is vital for explaining the use and side-effects of medications. Those who provide a travel medicine service should be seeing many travellers and should seek specialist training. In 2003, the International Society of Travel Medicine introduced a certificate of knowledge examination in travel medicine. We cannot make travellers bullet-proof but it is possible to make them bullet-resistant. The pre-travel visit should minimise health risks specific to the journey, give travellers the capability to handle most minor medical problems, and allow them to identify when to seek local care during the trip or on return.
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Abstract
In order to have a rational approach to necessary preventive measures it is essential to know the health risks. The 80 million travellers each year with destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Pacific Islands and remote areas in Eastern Europe are exposed to a broad range of pathogens that are rarely encountered at home. The risk depends on the degree of endemicity in the area visited, the duration of stay, the individual behaviour and the preventive measures taken. Travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is the most frequent ailment of visitors to countries with poor hygiene. The incidence rate is 25-90% in the first 2 weeks abroad. The risk of TD is far less in travellers originating in a high risk country, as some immunity develops. Malaria is an important risk for travellers going to endemic areas. Without chemoprophylaxis, the monthly incidence is high in some destinations, among them frequently visited tropical Africa where 80-95% of the infections are due to Plasmodium falciparum. The incidence rates are lower in most endemic areas of Asia and Latin America where Plasmodium vivax predominates. The risk is nil in all capital cities of South America and SE Asia, as well as in many frequently visited tourist destinations. The diseases preventable by immunization will be discussed in a separate paper (Vaccination priorities; page 175). Sexually transmitted diseases occur frequently, as some travellers (5% of Europeans) engage in casual sex, approximately half of them without being protected by a condom. The prevalence for HIV-infection, syphilis, gonorrhoea, etc. often exceeds 50% in prostitutes. In some European countries, a major proportion of heterosexuals with newly acquired HIV-infection have acquired it while abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Steffen
- Division of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Travellers' Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Sumatrastrasse 30, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Unintentional injury is a global public health problem. In 1990, an estimated 5 million people worldwide died as a result of an injury or poisoning. This accounted for 10% of deaths from all causes that year, and over half of the estimated 900 million years of life lost in 1990 due to premature death. Although mortality rates for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer are higher, the majority of people dying of these causes are elderly, with far fewer potential years of life to live. Reasons for the increasing public health importance of injury include the decline of infectious disease, the processes of urbanization, industrialization, motorization, and increased opportunities to travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhona J McInnes
- Midwifery Research Centre, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Bentley T, Page S, Meyer D, Chalmers D, Laird I. How safe is adventure tourism in New Zealand? An exploratory analysis. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2001; 32:327-338. [PMID: 11461034 DOI: 10.1016/s0003-6870(01)00011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The paper reports findings from a multidisciplinary programme of research, the major aims of which were to determine the nature and extent of the New Zealand adventure tourism injury problem. Analysis of hospital discharge and mortality data for a 15-year period identified adventure tourism-related activities as contributing to approximately 20% of overseas visitor injuries, and 22% of fatalities. Activities that commonly involve independent-unguided adventure tourism, notably mountaineering, skiing and tramping, contributed most to injury and fatality incidence. Horse riding and cycling activities were identified from hospital discharge data and adventure tourism operators' reported client injury-incidence, as the commercial adventure tourism activities most frequently involved in client injuries. Falls were the most common injury events, and a range of client, equipment, environmental and organisational risk factors were identified. Possible interventions to reduce injury risk among overseas and domestic adventure tourists are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bentley
- Forest Research, Rotorua, New Zealand
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Bentley TA, Page SJ, Laird IS. Safety in New Zealand's adventure tourism industry: the client accident experience of adventure tourism operators. J Travel Med 2000; 7:239-45. [PMID: 11231207 DOI: 10.2310/7060.2000.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injuries and fatalities among participants of adventure tourism activities have the potential to seriously impact on New Zealand's tourism industry. However, the absence of statistics for tourist accidents in New Zealand, and the lack of detailed academic research into adventure tourism safety, means the extent of the problem is unknown. The aims of the present study were to determine the incidence of client injuries across a range of adventure tourism activity sectors, and to identify common accident events and contributory risk factors. METHOD A postal questionnaire survey of New Zealand adventure tourism operators was used. Operators were asked to provide information related to their business; the number of recorded client injuries during the preceding 12 month period, January to December 1998; common accident and injury events associated with their activity; and perceived risk factors for accidents in their sector of the adventure tourism industry. RESULTS The survey was responded to by 142 New Zealand adventure tourism operators. The operators' reported client injury experience suggests the incidence of serious client injuries is very low. Highest client injury incidence rates were found for activities that involved the risk of falling from a moving vehicle or animal (e.g., cycle tours, quad biking, horse riding, and white-water rafting). Slips, trips, and falls on the level were common accident events across most sectors of the industry. Perceived accident/incident causes were most commonly related to the client, and in particular, failure to attend to and follow instructions. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of client injuries in activity sectors not presently covered by government regulation, suggests policy makers should look again at extending codes of practice to a wider range of adventure tourism activities. Further research considering adventure tourism involvement in overseas visitor hospitalized injuries in New Zealand, is currently in progress. This will provide supporting evidence for the risk associated with participation in a range of commercial and independently undertaken adventure activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Bentley
- Centre for Tourism Research, Department of Management and International Business, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Hargarten S. Emporiatric medicine--growing into the 21st century: from patient care to population care. J Travel Med 1999; 6:59. [PMID: 10381954 DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.1999.tb00832.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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