{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,16]],"date-time":"2026-05-16T03:49:58Z","timestamp":1778903398659,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]],"date-time":"2022-02-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1644019200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]],"date-time":"2022-02-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1644019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Australian Post Graduate Award"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Health Serv Res"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>For more than the last two decades, older Australians travelling domestically in self-sufficient accommodation and recreational vehicles for extended periods of time have been referred to as \u2018Grey Nomads\u2019. By 2021 more than 750,000 such recreational vehicles were registered in Australia. Tourism data for the year to September 2017 show 11.8 million domestic camping and caravanning trips in Australia, 29% of which were people aged 55 and over. As the \u2018baby boomer\u2019 generation increasingly comes to retirement, the size of this travelling population is growing. This term applies to the spike in birth rates after World War II from 1946\u20131964. This growing group of domestic travellers are potential healthcare consumers in remote areas but relatively little is known about their travel, healthcare needs or care seeking practices. Grey nomads have been described as reflective of the age-comparable sector of the Australian population in that many live with chronic illness. Early concerns were raised that they may \u201cburden\u201d already stretched rural and remote healthcare services but relatively little is known about the impact of these travellers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The aim of this study was to explore the utilisation of healthcare services in remote locations in Australia by grey nomads including women travellers, from the perspective of healthcare professionals working in these settings. The study objective was to interview healthcare professionals to seek their experience and details of service delivery to grey nomads.<\/jats:p>\n                    <jats:p>In March 2020 [prior to state border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic] a field study was conducted to identify the impact of grey nomads on healthcare services in remote New South Wales and Queensland. A qualitative approach was taken to explore the perspectives of nursing healthcare managers working in remote towns along a popular travel route. With appropriate Research Ethics Committee approval, managers were purposively sampled and sample size was determined by data saturation. Thirteen managers were contacted and twelve interviews were scheduled to take place face to face in the healthcare facilities (small hospitals with acute care and aged care services) at mutually convenient times. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed in line with the research aim. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis was undertaken concurrently with data collection for ongoing refinement of questions and to address emerging issues.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These nursing managers described a strong service and community ethos. They regarded travellers\u2019 healthcare needs no differently to those of local people and described their strong commitment to the provision of healthcare services for their local communities, applying an inclusive definition of community. Traveller presentations were described as predominantly exacerbations of chronic illness such as chest pain, medication-related attendances, and accidents and injuries. No hospital activity data for traveller presentations were available as no reports were routinely generated. Travellers were reported as not always having realistic expectations about what healthcare is available in remote areas and arriving with mixed levels of preparedness. Most travellers were said to be well-prepared for their travel and self-management of their health. However, the healthcare services that can be provided in rural and remote areas needed to be better understood by travellers from metropolitan areas and their urban healthcare providers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants did not perceive travellers as a burden on health services but recommendations were made regarding their expectations and preparedness. Australia\u2019s national transition to electronic health records including a patient\u2014held record was identified as a future support for continuity of care for travellers and to facilitate treatment planning. With no current information to characterise traveller presentations, routinely collected hospital data could be extracted to characterise this patient population, their presentations and the resources required to meet their care needs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]],"date-time":"2022-02-05T02:03:23Z","timestamp":1644026603000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["\u2018Grey nomad\u2019 travellers\u2019 use of remote health services in Australia: a qualitative enquiry of hospital managers\u2019 perspectives"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Margaret","family":"Yates","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lin","family":"Perry","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jenny","family":"Onyx","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tracy","family":"Levett-Jones","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"7580_CR1","first-page":"61","volume":"16","author":"J Onyx","year":"2005","unstructured":"Onyx J, Leonard R. Australian grey nomads and American snowbirds: similarities and differences. The Journal of Tourism Studies. 2005;16:61\u20138.","journal-title":"The Journal of Tourism Studies"},{"key":"7580_CR2","unstructured":"Williams S. Grey nomad numbers up. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2017 24 February"},{"key":"7580_CR3","unstructured":"Caravan Industry Association of Australia. Caravan Industry Supports National Road Safety Week as \u201cGrey Nomads\u201d begin to head north 2021 [There are over 750,000 registered recreational vehicles in Australia. Available from: https:\/\/www.caravanindustry.com.au\/caravan-industry-supports-national-road-safety-week-as-grey-nomads-begin-to-head-north. Accessed 26\/11\/21"},{"key":"7580_CR4","unstructured":"Tourism Research Australia. TRA Case Study: Caravan Industry Association of Australia 2019 https:\/\/www.tra.gov.au\/Data-and-Research\/Case-studies\/case-studies. Accessed 26\/11\/21"},{"issue":"3","key":"7580_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1071\/PY20023","volume":"27","author":"M Yates","year":"2021","unstructured":"Yates M, Perry L, Onyx J, Levett-Jones T. Exploring the \u2018grey nomad\u2019 travelling population of Australia and its health: an integrative literature review. Aust J Prim Health. 2021;27(3):163\u201377. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/PY20023.","journal-title":"Aust J Prim Health"},{"key":"7580_CR6","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Health Survey: Updated Results, 2011\u20132012. Long-Term Health Conditions 2013 [Available from: https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/ausstats\/abs@.nsf\/Lookup\/4364.0.55.003Chapter3002011-2012. Accessed 26\/11\/21"},{"issue":"1\/2","key":"7580_CR7","first-page":"70","volume":"35","author":"J Tate","year":"2006","unstructured":"Tate J, Mein J, Freeman H, Maguire G. Grey nomads\u2013health and health preparation of older travellers in remote Australia. Aust Fam Physician. 2006;35(1\/2):70\u20132.","journal-title":"Aust Fam Physician"},{"key":"7580_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1071\/PY16138","volume":"23","author":"E Halcomb","year":"2017","unstructured":"Halcomb E, Stephens M, Smyth E, Meedya S, Tillott S. The health and health preparation of long-term Australian travellers. Aust J Prim Health. 2017;23:386\u201390.","journal-title":"Aust J Prim Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"7580_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1071\/PY17043","volume":"24","author":"KRB Calma","year":"2018","unstructured":"Calma KRB, Halcomb E, Stephens M. An exploration of the experiences of Australian Grey Nomads travelling with chronic conditions. Aust J Prim Health. 2018;24(2):183\u20138.","journal-title":"Aust J Prim Health"},{"key":"7580_CR10","first-page":"S73","volume":"24","author":"W Abigail","year":"2016","unstructured":"Abigail W, McCloud C, de Bellis A, Hagger C, Clark R. Who\u2019s Maintaining the Health of Australia\u2019s Grey Nomads? J Aging Phys Act. 2016;24:S73.","journal-title":"J Aging Phys Act"},{"issue":"1","key":"7580_CR11","first-page":"19","volume":"9","author":"M Stephens","year":"2018","unstructured":"Stephens M, Halcomb E, Dewing J. Living on: an exploration of healthful cancer survivorship among grey nomads. Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing. 2018;9(1):19\u201324.","journal-title":"Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing"},{"key":"7580_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"De Bellis A, McCloud C, Giles J, Apolloni M, Abigail W, Hill P, et al. Grey nomads with diabetes self-management on the road \u2013 a scoping review. Rural and Remote Health 2021;21[3]:6517.","DOI":"10.22605\/RRH6517"},{"issue":"3","key":"7580_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1111\/ajr.12236","volume":"24","author":"M Raven","year":"2016","unstructured":"Raven M. Health of grey nomads: On the move and under the health sector radar. Aust J Rural Health. 2016;24(3):182\u20137.","journal-title":"Aust J Rural Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"7580_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1002\/nur.20362","volume":"33","author":"M Sandelowski","year":"2010","unstructured":"Sandelowski M. What\u2019s in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Res Nurs Health. 2010;33(1):77\u201384.","journal-title":"Res Nurs Health"},{"key":"7580_CR15","volume-title":"The Art of Fieldwork","author":"HF Woolcott","year":"2005","unstructured":"Woolcott HF. The Art of Fieldwork. 2nd ed. Plymouth: AltaMira Press; 2005.","edition":"2"},{"key":"7580_CR16","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1270.0.55.003 - Australian Statistical Geography Standard [ASGS]: Volume 3 - Non ABS Structures, June 2020 2020 [Available from: https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/AUSSTATS\/abs@.nsf\/Lookup\/1270.0.55.003Main+Features1June%202020?OpenDocument. Accessed 26\/11\/21"},{"key":"7580_CR17","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2071.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia - Stories from the Census, 2016 2016 [Available from: https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/ausstats\/abs@.nsf\/Lookup\/by%20Subject\/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Small%20Towns~113. Accessed 26\/11\/21"},{"issue":"4","key":"7580_CR18","first-page":"426","volume":"19","author":"CR Boddy","year":"2016","unstructured":"Boddy CR. Sample size for qualitative research. J Cetacean Res Manag. 2016;19(4):426\u201332.","journal-title":"J Cetacean Res Manag"},{"issue":"1","key":"7580_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X05279903","volume":"18","author":"G Guest","year":"2006","unstructured":"Guest G, Bunce A, Johnson L. How Many Interviews Are Enough?: An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability. Field Methods. 2006;18(1):59\u201382.","journal-title":"Field Methods"},{"issue":"2","key":"7580_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","unstructured":"Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77\u2013101.","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"7580_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Korstjens I, Moser A. Series: Practical Guidance to Qualitative Research. Part 4 Trustworthiness and Publishing European Journal of General Practice. 2018;24[1]:120\u20134.","DOI":"10.1080\/13814788.2017.1375092"},{"issue":"4","key":"7580_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1071\/PY19164","volume":"26","author":"A De Bellis","year":"2020","unstructured":"De Bellis A, Hill P, Abigail W, Giles J, McCloud C. Grey nomads with diabetes: the experience of rural and remote diabetes educators in South Australia. Aust J Prim Health. 2020;26(4):300\u20135.","journal-title":"Aust J Prim Health"},{"key":"7580_CR23","unstructured":"Obst PL, Brayley N, King MJ. Grey Nomads: Road Safety Impacts and Risk Management 2008 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference; 10\u201312 Nov 2008; Adelaide South Australia2008."},{"issue":"4","key":"7580_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.2190\/G4N9-3627-3G7J-W454","volume":"64","author":"J Onyx","year":"2007","unstructured":"Onyx J, Leonard R. The Grey Nomad phenomenon: Changing the script of aging. The International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 2007;64(4):381\u201398.","journal-title":"The International Journal of Aging & Human Development"}],"container-title":["BMC Health Services Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]],"date-time":"2022-02-05T02:03:34Z","timestamp":1644026614000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]]},"references-count":24,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,12]]}},"alternative-id":["7580"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12913-022-07580-8","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-939553\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1472-6963"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1472-6963","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,2,5]]},"assertion":[{"value":"26 September 2021","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"20 January 2022","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"5 February 2022","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This study was reviewed and approved by University of Technology Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee, registration number ETH19-4565. Participants provided informed written consent to participate and for publication of findings.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"All participants provided consent for publication.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no financial and non-financial competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"151"}}