ANTICIPATED RESPONSE TO 3 COMMON INJURIES BY RURAL AND REMOTE AREA RESIDENTS

Three progressively worsening injury scenarios were used to determine the influence of distance from medical services on the anticipated ill ness behaviour of rural and remote area residents. A total of 801 hous eholders were interviewed in two rural areas of Queensland, Australia (320 in a coastal area acid 481 in an inland area). There was a consis tent trend with distance of decreasing willingness to seek immediate c are at each injury stage. As the severity of each scenario increased, there was a convergence in anticipated action. Inland area respondents were less likely to seek medical care at each stage of the injuries t han coastal area respondents. Distant respondents were more likely to telephone for medical advice before seeking care. When this was taken into account, there was less difference in anticipated action by dista nce, although those further from medical services still indicated a pr opensity to delay action in the less serious injuries.