title: Reduction in health service use for whiplash injury after motor vehicle accidents in 2000-2009: results from a defined population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish trends in whiplash-related health service use and cost in Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administrative data analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whiplash patients claiming Transport Accident Commission (TAC) compensation for accidents dating between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009 (n = 51,263).
  
  
  METHODS
  Injury-related health service use during one year following the accident was determined from claim payment records. The incidence of whiplash claims in Victoria was calculated, as were inflation-adjusted health care costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2000-2009, the incidence of compensable whiplash decreased from 1.56 to 1.14 per 1,000 person-years. Physiotherapy, pharmaceuticals, general practitioner, chiropractic, radiology and osteopathy sessions were the most commonly claimed services. General practitioner, allied health and radiology services decreased, but analgesic use increased. Per person-years in the population, whiplash-related medical expenses were 71% greater for women than men. Overall, population burden decreased by 38%; the decline was most pronounced in persons aged 18-24 (54% decrease) and least pronounced in those aged ≥ 55 (23% decrease).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The population-based health service cost of whiplash decreased between 2000 and 2009. The overall reduction was related to a decrease in incidence and a reduction in service use per whiplash claim.
authors: Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University, 3800 Melbourne, Australia. janneke.berecki-gisolf@monash.edu.
authors: Janneke
authors: J
authors: Berecki-Gisolf
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Collie
authors: Roderick
authors: R
authors: McClure
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult