title: Patterns of 'at-home' alcohol-related injury presentations to emergency departments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to establish the scale of alcohol-related injuries originating in the home.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite recent media and public attention on alcohol-related injuries occurring at licensed venues, many occur in other locations including the home.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency department surveillance data sourced from the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit were interrogated for alcohol-related emergency department presentations from 2003-2012 (n = 12,296). Descriptive analysis was undertaken to assess alcohol involvement in injury, and analysis of variance was used to determine the differences among group means and their associated presentations. The relationship between demographic variables and injury location was assessed using p value of <0·05 as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all injuries that were positively identified as being alcohol related, 41·07% occurred at the 'other' location, 36·14% 'at home', 13·00% on the street and 9·78% at licensed premises. Of these, males (n = 2635; 59%) represented a higher proportion than females (n = 1807; 41%). Of injuries identified as domestic violence by spouse or partner (n = 510), 59·5% occurred 'at home'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to investigate alcohol-related injuries occurring at home. The home accounts for a greater proportion of injuries than the frequently assessed licensed premises location. Further research is required to validate these findings in a wider setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A public health campaign is required to minimise harm associated with alcohol-related injuries in the home, and nurses are positioned to inform health policy makers around this issue. Furthermore, emergency department nurses are in a unique position to provide brief interventions around safe alcohol consumption and injury prevention.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit, Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Usher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol; emergency departments; home; injuries