Description of Trends over the Week in Alcohol-Related Ambulance Attendance Data

Kerri Coomber (), Peter G. Miller, Jessica J. Killian, Rowan P. Ogeil, Naomi Beard, Dan I. Lubman, Ryan Baldwin, Karen Smith and Debbie Scott
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Kerri Coomber: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Peter G. Miller: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Jessica J. Killian: Turning Point, Eastern Health, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Rowan P. Ogeil: Turning Point, Eastern Health, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Naomi Beard: Turning Point, Eastern Health, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Dan I. Lubman: Turning Point, Eastern Health, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Ryan Baldwin: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Karen Smith: Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, Blackburn North, VIC 3130, Australia
Debbie Scott: Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill, VIC 3199, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-8

Abstract: Alcohol harms are often determined using a proxy measure based on temporal patterns during the week when harms are most likely to occur. This study utilised coded Australian ambulance data from the Victorian arm of the National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS) to investigate temporal patterns across the week for alcohol-related ambulance attendances in 2019. These patterns were examined by season, regionality, gender, and age group. We found clear temporal peaks: from Friday 6:00 p.m. to Saturday 3:59 a.m. for both alcohol-involved and alcohol-intoxication-related attendance, from Saturday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 4:59 a.m. for alcohol-involved attendances, and from Saturday 5:00 p.m. to Sunday 4:49 a.m. for alcohol-intoxication-related attendances. However, these temporal trends varied across age groups. Additionally, hours during Thursday and Sunday evenings also demonstrated peaks in attendances. There were no substantive differences between genders. Younger age groups (18–24 and 25–29 years) had a peak of alcohol-related attendances from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, whereas the peak in attendances for 50–59 and 60+ years was from 5:00 p.m. to 2:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. These findings further the understanding of the impacts of alcohol during different times throughout the week, which can guide targeted policy responses regarding alcohol use and health service capacity planning.

Keywords: alcohol; ambulance attendances; temporal trends; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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