Tourist health services at tropical island resorts

An unfamiliar holiday environment may give rise to a range of common and unique medical conditions and injuries. Based on a six-month retrospective analysis of clinic records, the present study reports a detailed profile of health services provided for guests at three tropical island tourist resorts. A total of 1183 clinic visits were analysed; 735 (62 per cent) concerned medical conditions, while 448 (38 per cent) were related to injuries. The most common medical conditions treated were respiratory, digestive, skin problems, eye disorders, and genito-urinary complaints. Injuries included lacerations, bites and stings, sprains and fractures. Health services consisted mainly of medication, specialist nursing care and first aid. Study findings highlight the advantages of using an internationally accepted classification system for primary health research, and the critical role of the nurse in tourist health services.