Medical Services at the Asian Beach Games: A Report of the Phuket Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee [PABGOC]
Mason Porramatikul MD1, Athaphol Sriwattana MD1, Kamolchanok Cholpranee MD1, Jakapong Thassayan MD1, Wannipa Kaewyod MSc2, Lersak Leenanithikul MD3, Suthichoke Purthivorawong MD4
Affiliation : 1 Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Sports Science Center, Sports Authority of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand 3Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phuket, Thailand 4 Department of Orthopaedic, Singburi Hospital, Singburi, Thailand
Objective : To assess the medical services, administration, and problems encountered during medical services in the 4th Asian
Beach Games 2014.
Materials and Methods : All medical encounters occurring at Phuket Asian Beach Games medical service centers and nation
team physicians between November 10, 2014 and November 23, 2014 were identified from the daily reports. Data were
analyzed based on the function as athletes or non-athletes.
Results : There were 619 total medical encounters during the game. The average encounter was 48.9 per day. The main medical
encounters were on competitive venues whereas the peak of medical utilization was around the mid-period of the tournament.
Most of the injuries or illnesses were found among athletes (46.7%) and staffs (32.1%). Nearly half (44%) of medical services
were internal medicine and nearly one third were orthopedics (31%). Among the athletes’ encounters, 71.9% were sport
injuries and 28.9% were medical issues. The most common injuries were from ju-jitsu whereas the most common illnesses
involved gastro-intestinal system.
Conclusion : From an average encounter of 48.9 per day, most were on competitive venues. Athletes and staffs were most
commonly affected. Majority of athletes’ encounters were sport injuries. These data could be used as reference for medical
service planning in the other games with similar settings.
Keywords : Beach games, Injuries, Illnesses, Medical service, Phuket
