Patterns of self-reported health care use in injured and uninjured older adults.

METHOD: Using cross-sectional data obtained from the 1994 National Population Health Survey, we have compared self-reported health-care use between injured and non-injured older adults. RESULTS: Over 12 months, 9% of non-institutionalized people over 65 reported an injury. The commonest injuries were sprains or strains and fractures and half of these were caused by a fall. Older people sustaining injuries are more likely to spend a night in hospital and receive physiotherapy.