Understanding the Characteristics of Patient Presentations of Young People at Outdoor Music Festivals

TLDR

Outdoor music festivals are bounded, ticketed events that serve alcohol and have a higher incidence of patient presentations than similar mass gatherings, yet most studies report single events, limiting generalization of typical patient presentations. This study aimed to characterize the demographics and types of injury and illness among young people presenting to on‑site health care at Australian outdoor music festivals. Using a non‑experimental retrospective review of patient report forms from 26 festivals across four Australian states in 2010, the authors collected data on presentations. Females comprised the majority of presentations, with over two‑thirds involving minor illnesses such as headaches, while males more often presented with injuries—particularly facial and hand lacerations—and alcohol or substance use accounted for 15 % of all cases.

Abstract

Outdoor music festivals are unique events given that they are, for the most part, bounded and ticketed, and alcohol is served. They frequently have a higher incidence of patient presentations when compared with similar types of mass gatherings. Often, however, single events are reported in the literature, making it difficult to generalize the findings across multiple events and limiting the understanding of the "typical" patient presentations at these mass gatherings. The aim of this paper was to understand the characteristics of young people who have presented as patients to on-site health care at outdoor music festivals in Australia, and the relative proportion and type of injury and illness presentations at these events. This research used a nonexperimental design, utilizing a retrospective review of patient report forms from outdoor music festivals. Data were collected from 26 outdoor music festivals across four States of Australia during the year 2010. Females presented at greater numbers than males, and over two-thirds presented with minor illnesses, such as headaches. Males presented with injuries, in particular lacerations to their face and their hands, and alcohol and substance use made up 15% of all presentations.