4384.0 - National Health Survey: Injuries, Australia, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/11/2003   
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ALCOHOL RISK LEVEL

The adult was divided into risk levels determined by their estimated average daily alcohol consumption in the seven days prior to interview. Average daily consumption in the previous seven days was estimated using two components:

  • the number of days on which the respondent reported consuming alcohol in the previous week
  • the quantity consumed on the three most recent days on which they consumed alcohol. For people who drank on no more than three days in the last week, their daily average was simply the total consumed divided by seven.
    Risk levels are based on the NHMRC risk levels for harm in the long-term, and assumes the level of alcohol consumption is typical. The average daily consumption of alcohol associated with the risk levels is as follows:

    ALCOHOL RISK LEVEL
    Males
    Females
    Low risk
    50 ml or less
    25 ml or less
    Risky
    More than 50 ml, up to 75 ml
    More than 25 ml, up to 50 ml
    High risk
    More than 75 ml
    More than 50 ml

    Drinking status information was also collected for those who did not consume any alcohol in the seven days prior to interview:
    last consumed more than one week to less than 12 months ago
    • last consumed two months or more ago
    • never consumed.

    ATTACK BY ANOTHER PERSON

    Includes attacks where an injury was incurred and a health action was taken for that injury. Excludes verbal attacks or threats where no injury was received, and actual attacks where no injury was received.

    BITE OR STING

    Dog bites, spider, insect or other animal bites causing pain and swelling were included. Mosquito bites and other minor insect bites were not included as injuries even if some action was taken as a result.

    BURNS AND SCALDS

    Included were burns from swallowed chemicals, boiling water, etc.

    COLLISIONS

    Refers to hitting something or being hit by something.

    DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES

    These include housework, working in the backyard, household maintenance, shopping and cooking.

    EXERCISE LEVEL

    Information was collected on respondents aged 15 years and over. Exercise level was based on frequency, intensity (i.e. walking, moderate execise and vigorous exercise) and duration of exercise (for recreation, sport or fitness) in the two weeks prior to interview. From these components, an exercise score was derived using factors to represent the intensity of the exercise. Scores were grouped for output as follows:

    EXERCISE LEVEL
    Sedentary
    Less than 100 (includes no exercise)
    Low
    100 to less than 1600
    Moderate
    1,600-3,200, or more than 3,200 but less than 2 hours of vigorous exercise
    High
    More than 3,200 and 2 hours or more of vigorous exercise


    EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS

    An injury event which involves swallowing poison, drug overdose, chemical burns and inhaled chemical fumes where included. Food poisoning was excluded.

    EXPOSURE TO FIRE

    As well as burns from fire, also included were general burns such as from a hot plate or smoke inhalation.

    FALLS

    Both injuries from low and high falls were collected. A low fall included a fall of one metre or less. As well as falling - slipping or tripping was also included. Any falls of over one metre such as from a window ledge or climbing frame were excluded.
    A high fall included any fall of over one metre such as from a window ledge or climbing frame. Excluded all falls classified as low falls.

    INDEX OF RELATIVE SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE

    One of five of Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFAs) compiled by the ABS following each population census. Each of the indexes summarise different aspects of the socioeconomic condition of areas; the index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage includes attributes such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. The index refers to the area (the Census Collector's District) in which a person lives, not to the socioeconomic situation of the particular individual. The index used in this publication were those compiled following the 1996 census. For further information about the SEIFAs see Information Paper: 1996 Census of Population and Housing - Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas, Australia, 1996 (cat.no.2039.0).

    INJURY RELATED LONG-TERM CONDITION

    Included were long-term conditions which were caused by an injury such as trauma, poisoning, or other conditions resulting rapidly and directly from external factors such as accidents, violence and exposure to poisons or harmful chemicals.

    INTERNAL INJURY

    Included injuries to organs in the chest, abdomen or pelvis, and brain damage.

    LEISURE ACTIVITIES

    These included activities such as swimming for leisure, reading, watching movies or videos, playing games, and non-organised sport such as backyard cricket. Sports activities undertaken for competition or as part of an organised routine were excluded.

    LONG-TERM CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM INJURY

    Respondents were asked if any current long-term conditions had been caused by injury. Unlike recent injuries, these injuries may have occurred at any point in a person's life and were reported only if they resulted in a condition lasting, or expected to last, longer than six months.

    MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT

    For long-term conditions caused by an injury which was acquired in a motor vehicle accident, only accidents caused by motorised vehicles were included. Non-motorised vehicles such as bicycles were excluded. However, statistics presented on recent injuries included both motorised and non-motorised vehicles (see Glossary entry for vehicle accidents).

    OPEN WOUNDS

    Included cuts, scrapes, amputations, dog or other animal bites and any other injuries where the skin is broken.

    OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

    Comprises:
    • Aboriginal health worker (n.e.c.)
    • Accredited counsellor
    • Acupuncturist
    • Alcohol and other drug worker (n.e.c.)
    • Audiologist/audiometrist
    • Chemist (for advice)
    • Chiropodist/podiatrist
    • Chiropractor
    • Dietitian/nutritionist
    • Herbalist
    • Hypnotherapist
    • Naturopath
    • Nurse
    • Occupational therapist
    • Optician/optometrist
    • Osteopath
    • Physiotherapist/hydrotherapist
    • Psychologist
    • Social worker/welfare officer
    • Speech therapist/pathologist
    OTHER TYPE OF RECENT INJURY RECEIVED

    Included here were injuries not otherwise covered such as crushing injuries, injuries caused by foreign bodies and self-inflicted injuries.

    POISONING

    A type of damage caused by an injury event. Included was drug overdose, illness or other harmful effects of swallowed poison and toxic effects of substances. Snake and spider bites were also included.

    RECENT INJURY EVENT

    A recent injury event is an event meeting the following criteria:
    • the event was an accident, harmful incident, exposure to harmful factors or other incident
    • occurred in the four weeks prior to interview
    • resulted in an injury
    • resulted in one or more of the following actions being taken
      • consulting a health professional
      • seeking medical advice
      • recieving medical treatment
      • reducing usual activities
      • other treatment of injury such as taking medications, or using a bandage or band aid or heat or ice pack.
    Excluded were food poisoning and minor insect bites (e.g. mosquito bites) regardless of action taken by the respondent.

    SPORTS ACTIVITIES

    Sporting activities (as defined in the recent injuries module) included training for or competing in organised team or individual sport such as football, running, cycling, skating. Sports activities that are undertaken as leisure activities such as non-competative swimming, walking, darts, or non-organised team sport, such as backyard cricket were excluded.

    TYPE OF RECENT INJURY EVENT

    The type of events resulting in injury were reported by respondents against the following categories:
    • Vehicle accident
    • Low fall (one metre or less)
    • High fall
    • Hitting something or being hit by something (collisions)
    • Attack by another person
    • Near drowning
    • Exposure to fire
    • Exposure to chemicals
    • Bite or sting
    • Other event requiring action.
    For further details on definitions of these categories, refer to individual glossary entries.

    TYPE OF INJURY DAMAGE

    The type of injury received as a result of an injury event were reported by respondents against the following categories:
    • Fractures
    • Dislocations, sprains and strains, torn mucles or ligaments
    • Internal injury
    • Open wound
    • Bruising
    • Burns and scalds
    • Concussion
    • Choking
    • Poisoning
    • Other type of injury damage.
    For further details on definitions of these categories, refer to individual Glossary entries.

    USUAL WEEKLY HOURS

    Number of hours usually worked each week in the job or business for which the respondent usually worked the most hours.

    VEHICLE ACCIDENT

    For recent injuries, all vehicle accidents were included whether occurring on or off road. Vehicles included cars, motorbikes, trains, boats, bicycles, or any other type of vehicle. However, statistics presented on long-term conditions caused by a vehicle accident related to motor vehicles only (see Glossary entry for motor vehicle accidents).

    WORK-RELATED CONDITIONS

    Refers to conditions which - in the respondent's view - were caused or exacerbated by their employment conditions while in paid work. Domestic activities or volunteer work were excluded.