Anticipated response to three 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 illness behaviour of rural and remote area residents. A total of 801 householders were interviewed in two rural areas of Queensland, Australia (320 in a coastal area and 481 in an inland area). There was a consistent trend with distance of decreasing willingness to seek immediate care 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 than 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 distance, although those further from medical services still indicated a propensity to delay action in the less serious injuries.