Injury and general practice in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the extent to which general practices are involved in the initial management of injury in Australia.


METHODS
Data were derived from a secondary analysis of the 1989-1990 National Health Survey (NHS); a population-based multi-stage and list sample survey of the Australian population. The study variables used in this analysis included age, sex, country of birth, employment status, place of most recent accident, number of reduced activity days subsequent to injury and where presenting for treatment of the injury.


RESULTS
The ratio of general practice to hospital emergency department attendance for treatment of injury was 1.5:1 (95% confidence limits = 1-2:1). The two groups of patients differed by age, employment status, place of most recent accident but not by sex or country of birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from hospital studies should not be extrapolated to produce community estimates of injury incidence in Australia. General practice should be specifically included in future injury research and control projects.
McClure
R
R
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Queensland.
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*