Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Reports indicate that 22%–64% of travelers experience some illness when in a foreign country. To date, no prior study has reported the use of ambulances by travelers or the epidemiology of travel-related injury.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong...

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Main Authors: Yusuke Oshita, Koki Tsuchiya, Koji Ishikawa, Kodai Hirabayashi, Tetsuya Nemoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Travel Medicine Center of Iran 2020-03-01
Series:International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_104728_8b8e48d15513c4d3ef58b15ca6183d64.pdf
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author Yusuke Oshita
Koki Tsuchiya
Koji Ishikawa
Kodai Hirabayashi
Tetsuya Nemoto
author_facet Yusuke Oshita
Koki Tsuchiya
Koji Ishikawa
Kodai Hirabayashi
Tetsuya Nemoto
author_sort Yusuke Oshita
collection DOAJ
description <strong>Introduction:</strong> Reports indicate that 22%–64% of travelers experience some illness when in a foreign country. To date, no prior study has reported the use of ambulances by travelers or the epidemiology of travel-related injury.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong> In this retrospective study, we aimed to describe ambulance use by international travelers, including the rates of travel-related injury and illness. To do so, ambulance dispatch data from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018 was used.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> Overall, of the 43 201 cases of ambulance use during the study period, 524 (1.2%) were international travelers. Ambulance use by international travelers increased from 0.35% in 2010 (15/4311) to 2.54% in 2018 (125/4913), an average annual increase of 0.27%. Of the international travelers, 392 (74.8%) had minor complaints, 110 cases (21.0%) had moderate complaints, 280 (53.4%) had internal disease, and 223 cases (42.6%) had suffered trauma. Regarding location, 253 (48.3%) were from a hotel/lodge, 83 (15.8%) were from a road/parking, and 30 (5.7%) were in the forest/mountain.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Most international travelers use ambulances for minor complaints, typically internal disease or trauma, and approximately half access the service from a hotel or lodge.
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spelling doaj.art-626640860acf4513b399d6a534bf06f22022-12-21T20:25:50ZengInternational Travel Medicine Center of IranInternational Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health2322-11002476-57592020-03-0181131710.34172/ijtmgh.2020.02104728Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive StudyYusuke Oshita0Koki Tsuchiya1Koji Ishikawa2Kodai Hirabayashi3Tetsuya Nemoto4Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, JapanDepartment of Orthopaedics Surgery, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, JapanDepartment of Orthopaedics Surgery, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, JapanDepartment of Orthopaedics Surgery, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, JapanDepartment of Orthopaedics Surgery, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan<strong>Introduction:</strong> Reports indicate that 22%–64% of travelers experience some illness when in a foreign country. To date, no prior study has reported the use of ambulances by travelers or the epidemiology of travel-related injury.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong> In this retrospective study, we aimed to describe ambulance use by international travelers, including the rates of travel-related injury and illness. To do so, ambulance dispatch data from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018 was used.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> Overall, of the 43 201 cases of ambulance use during the study period, 524 (1.2%) were international travelers. Ambulance use by international travelers increased from 0.35% in 2010 (15/4311) to 2.54% in 2018 (125/4913), an average annual increase of 0.27%. Of the international travelers, 392 (74.8%) had minor complaints, 110 cases (21.0%) had moderate complaints, 280 (53.4%) had internal disease, and 223 cases (42.6%) had suffered trauma. Regarding location, 253 (48.3%) were from a hotel/lodge, 83 (15.8%) were from a road/parking, and 30 (5.7%) were in the forest/mountain.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Most international travelers use ambulances for minor complaints, typically internal disease or trauma, and approximately half access the service from a hotel or lodge.http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_104728_8b8e48d15513c4d3ef58b15ca6183d64.pdfambulancetravel medicineemergencytraumainjuryjapan
spellingShingle Yusuke Oshita
Koki Tsuchiya
Koji Ishikawa
Kodai Hirabayashi
Tetsuya Nemoto
Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
ambulance
travel medicine
emergency
trauma
injury
japan
title Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
title_full Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
title_fullStr Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
title_full_unstemmed Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
title_short Ambulance Use by International Travelers in Japan: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
title_sort ambulance use by international travelers in japan a retrospective descriptive study
topic ambulance
travel medicine
emergency
trauma
injury
japan
url http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_104728_8b8e48d15513c4d3ef58b15ca6183d64.pdf
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AT kodaihirabayashi ambulanceusebyinternationaltravelersinjapanaretrospectivedescriptivestudy
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