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

Introduction: Reports indicate that ۲۲%–۶۴% 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. Methods: 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 ۱, ۲۰۱۰ to December ۳۱, ۲۰۱۸ was used. Results: Overall, of the ۴۳ ۲۰۱ cases of ambulance use during the study period, ۵۲۴ (۱.۲%) were international travelers. Ambulance use by international travelers increased from ۰.۳۵% in ۲۰۱۰ (۱۵/۴۳۱۱) to ۲.۵۴% in ۲۰۱۸ (۱۲۵/۴۹۱۳), an average annual increase of ۰.۲۷%. Of the international travelers, ۳۹۲ (۷۴.۸%) had minor complaints, ۱۱۰ cases (۲۱.۰%) had moderate complaints, ۲۸۰ (۵۳.۴%) had internal disease, and ۲۲۳ cases (۴۲.۶%) had suffered trauma. Regarding location, ۲۵۳ (۴۸.۳%) were from a hotel/lodge, ۸۳ (۱۵.۸%) were from a road/parking, and ۳۰ (۵.۷%) were in the forest/mountain. Conclusion: Most international travelers use ambulances for minor complaints, typically internal disease or trauma, and approximately half access the service from a hotel or lodge.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ambulance ، Travel Medicine ، Emergency ، Trauma ، Injury ، Japan