Economic consequences of injury in female Australian footballers: A prospective observational study of emergency department presentations

Stephen D Gill; Julian Stella; Mary Lou Chatterton; Nicole Lowry; Kate Kloot; Tom Reade; Tim Baker; Georgina Hayden; Matthew Ryan; Hugh Seward; Richard S Page

doi:10.1111/1742-6723.14156

Economic consequences of injury in female Australian footballers: A prospective observational study of emergency department presentations

Emerg Med Australas. 2023 Jun;35(3):496-503. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14156. Epub 2023 Jan 9.

Authors

Stephen D Gill^{1

2}, Julian Stella², Mary Lou Chatterton^{3

4}, Nicole Lowry², Kate Kloot⁵, Tom Reade², Tim Baker⁶, Georgina Hayden⁷, Matthew Ryan⁸, Hugh Seward⁹, Richard S Page¹

Affiliations

¹ Barwon Centre for Orthopaedic Research and Education, School of Medicine, Deakin University and St John of God Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
² Emergency Department, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
³ Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Rural Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Emergency Department, St John of God Geelong Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Emergency Department, Epworth Hospital Geelong, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Newtown Medical Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 36623933
DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14156

Abstract

Objective: Investigate the economic consequences of injuries to female Australian footballers from a health sector and societal perspective.

Methods: This prospective observational study invited 242 females to complete an online questionnaire 3-6 months following an Australian football injury which involved presentation to an ED in Victoria, Australia. The questionnaire inquired regarding healthcare use, time off work, return to playing football and extent of recovery following injury. Relevant information was also extracted from respondents' medical records regarding injury-type, body part injured, investigations and treatments. Healthcare costs were determined for each respondent's ED presentation, hospital admission/s (when relevant), and subsequent healthcare use. Societal costs were determined as lost income to the respondent and/or carer.

Results: A total of 108 people responded to the questionnaire. Sprains/strains and fractures accounted for 84.2% of respondents' injuries. Sixteen respondents (14.8%) required admission to hospital at the time of injury and 81 (75.0%) required subsequent healthcare appointments following discharge from the ED or hospital. Time off work or school following the injury was common (64.8% of respondents) and 27.8% of respondents had a carer take time off work. More than 80% of respondents missed training and matches following the injury. The median healthcare cost per respondent was AUD$753 and the median cost due to work absence was AUD$1393. One-quarter of respondents reported a full recovery.

Conclusions: Injuries to female Australian footballers can produce substantial healthcare and societal costs, which has important implications for healthcare provision and prioritising and implementing injury prevention programmes and post-injury rehabilitation.

Keywords: Australian football; economic analysis; emergency medical service; female footballer; sports-related injury.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Hospitalization*
Humans
Team Sports*
Victoria / epidemiology

Supplementary concepts

Australians