bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ARE ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS PREVENTABLE AMONG SLEEP APNOEA PATIENTS?
Authors: Antonopoulos C , Sergentanis T , Daskalopoulou S , Petridou E 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundDrowsiness and lack of concentration among obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients may strongly contribute to road traffic accidents (RTAs).Aims/Objectives/PurposeA meta-analysis was conducted in order to estimate whether RTAs can be prevented after treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) among (OSA) patients.MethodsReal accidents, near miss accidents and accident-related events in the driving simulator were used as the primary outcomes after nCPAP treatment. Pooled ORs, incidence rate ratios (IRRs), standardised mean differences (SMDs), risk differences (RDs) and numbers needed to treat (NNTs) were appropriately calculated.Results/OutcomeConcerning real accidents (10 studies, 1221 patients), a statistically significant reduction in RTAs was recorded (OR=0.21, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.35, random effects model; IRR=0.45, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.59, fixed effects model). A stronger reduction on near miss accidents (5 studies, 769 patients; OR=0.09, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.21, random effects model; IRR=0.23, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.67, random effects model) was also observed. With respect to the preventable fraction of RTAs, it was estimated that five (NNT=5, 95% CI 3 to 8) and two (NNT=2, 95% CI 1 to 4) OSA patients should be treated with nCPAP to prevent one patient reporting real and near miss road traffic accidents, respectively.Significance/Contribution to the FieldIt seems that nCPAP treatment may offer a sizeable protective effect upon RTAs prevention. The clinical role of health professionals in accident prevention should include identification of accident risks or medical conditions conferring risk (OSA), treatment of accident-causing conditions (nCPAP treatment) and reinforcement of advocacy and policy making towards promoting accident prevention education and training (OSA patients).
DIFFERENCES IN THE PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING IN EIGHT COUNTRIES, 2011
Authors: Naumann R , Dellinger A 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundDistraction is a risk factor for traffic crashes that is becoming an increasing global concern; however, its prevalence is not well documented.Aims/Objectives/PurposeTo examine the prevalence and characteristics of those who talk or text using cellular devices while driving in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the USA.MethodsOnline survey of adults aged 18–64 in the USA (N=3294) and seven European countries (N=8955), weighted to the age and sex distributions of each country. Respondents reported how often they talk on their cellular phone while driving and how often they read or send text messages or email while driving. We examined differences in prevalence by country, age group, and sex.Results/OutcomesMore than one in four (27.3%, 95% CI 25.1% to 29.4%) US adult drivers aged 18–64 reported they ‘regularly or fairly often’ talk on their cellular phone while driving. In Europe, percentages ranged from 20.4% in Portugal (95% CI 16.5% to 24.3%) to 7.8% in the UK (5.9% to 9.7%). Additionally, 7.7% (6.3% to 9.0%) of US drivers aged 18–64 reported that they ‘regularly or fairly often’ read or send text messages or email while driving. In Europe, percentages ranged from 8.1% (95% CI 6.6% to 9.6%) in Belgium to 2.5% (95% CI 1.3% to 3.7%) in the UK. There were few differences by sex, but there were differences by age group within most countries.Significance/Contribution to the FieldThis study provides recent prevalence estimates of distracted driving-related behaviours in eight countries, which can be used to target high-risk groups for prevention efforts.
USING IN-DEPTH CRASH DATA TO ASSESS THE ROLE OF DRIVER INATTENTION AND DRIVER DISTRACTION IN CRASHES
Authors: Beanland V , Fitzharris M , Young KL , Lenné MG 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundDriver inattention and distraction represent major challenges for road safety. Although both are believed to increase crash risk, there is currently limited information on their role in crashes.AimsThis study aimed to investigate driver inattention and distraction in serious casualty crashes using data from the Australian National Crash In-depth Study.MethodsThe sample included 340 serious casualty crashes from 2000–2011 where a driver or passenger was interviewed. Pre-hospital, hospital and post-crash information concerning the vehicle and scene were collected. Using a ‘case-by-case’ approach, driver behaviours were classified using a recently developed taxonomy of driver inattention. Five inattention subtypes were defined: restricted attention; misprioritised attention; neglected attention; cursory attention; and diverted attention (distraction).Results124 crashes (36.5%) showed no evidence of inattention, 20 crashes (5.9%) involved possible inattention, and 196 crashes (57.6%) involved an element of inattention on the part of a driver. The most common inattention subtypes were restricted attention (n =128; 37.6%), in which attention is limited due to physical or biological factors (eg, fatigue, intoxication), and distraction (n =54; 15.9%). The most common distractions were voluntary, in-vehicle, non-driving related distractions (eg, passenger interactions).SignificanceThe results demonstrate that the majority of serious injury crashes involve an element of driver inattention or distraction. In most cases, the type of inattention and distraction behaviours observed were preventable, highlighting the need for improved education as well as new technology solutions to aid the driver. This study also highlights the value of in-depth data in understanding crash causation.
LESSON LEARNT IN INJURY CONTROL: AFTER 30 YEARS WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?
Authors: Francescutti LH 
Published: October 2012

Our current view of injury prevention is shallow, narrow and unfocused. We may need to re-examine our approach to injury control to include a more holistic approach that is essentially based on the social determinants of health. Injuries do not happen in isolation. Like the layers of an onion, it is a combination of interplay between various pathophysiologic pathways; constitutional factors; individual risk factors and choices; social relationships; living conditions; neighbourhoods and communities; institutions and finally social and economic policies that contribute to injury causation. From the moment we are conceived and especially up to the age of 18 months our nurturing impacts us for the rest of our lives. We have a choice to invest the time and resources when the infant's brain is most malleable or by default continue to spend too late and at a greater cost in social services, welfare, judicial systems and health care expenditures. Without a doubt, our chances of achieving greater health are directly linked to the strengthening of the social determinants of health: genetics, gender, housing, education (literacy), income and social status, personal health practices, resilience, nutrition, employment conditions, physical environment, culture, child development, spirituality and strong social support networks.Our inability to acknowledge the importance of ‘love’ and ‘happiness’ in our lives makes the required new thinking of injuries difficult for the majority of injury prevention leaders. The current desire for instant versus delayed gratification in our society directly leads to the need for an expensive, ineffective health care system. The very actions that give usinstant gratification also give rise to disease and injury.Fatty foodsgive rise to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and injury.Drug usegives rise to overdoses, addictions, mental illness, crime and injuries.Alcohol usegives rise to cirrhosis, mental illness, violence, injuries and crime.Inactivitygives rise to obesity, poor health, and disability.Salt usegives rise to hypertension and cardiovascular problems.Sexgives rise to sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, fetal alcohol syndrome and sexual assaults.Smokinggives rise to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and injuries.It is estimated that 50% of all deaths in developed countries are preventable. That for those under the age of 44, injury is the leading cause of death. For those under the age of 34 motor vehicle related injuries are the leading cause of death. And finally, injuries kill more 1–19-year-olds than all other diseases combined.Let us broaden our approach to injury prevention by boldly linking our discussions to include ‘love’, ‘happiness’, ‘instant versus delayed gratification’ and the ‘social determinants of health’ as we search for solutions to this seemingly elusive problem—injuries.
FALLS IN YOUNG AND WORKING AGE ADULTS—SHOULD WE BE WORRYING ABOUT THEM?
Authors: Kool B 
Published: October 2012

Falls research and prevention efforts have traditionally focused on the very young and very old. But what about falls in young and middle-aged adults are they an issue? Do people suddenly stop falling when they become young adults and not start again till they reach advancing years?This presentation will focus on how common falls are in young and middle-age adults. The characteristics and contexts of falls in this age group will be discussed. Knowledge of factors that increase risks of having falls in this age group, and factors that predict poor outcome following falls will be presented. Finally opportunities for prevention will be debated including whether young and middle-aged adults think falls are a problem, what evidence is there that anything works, and where might future opportunities lie.
Understanding unintentional childhood home injuries: pilot surveillance data from Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Nukhba Zia , Uzma R Khan , Junaid A Razzak , Prasanthi Puvanachandra , Adnan A Hyder 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundChildhood injuries, an important public health issue, globally affects more than 95% of children living in low-and middle-income countries. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiology of childhood unintentional injuries in Karachi, Pakistan with a specific focus on those occurring within the home environment.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of a childhood unintentional injury surveillance database setup in the emergency department of the Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan for 3 months. The data was collected by interviewing caretakers of children under 12 years of age presenting with an unintentional injury to the emergency departments of the four major tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan.ResultsThe surveillance included 566 injured children of which 409 (72%) injuries had taken place at/around home. Of 409 children, 66% were males and mostly between 5 and 11 years of age. Injuries commonly occurred during play time (51%). Fall (59%), dog bites (11%) and burns (9%) were the commonest mechanisms of injury. The majority of the children (78%) were directly discharged from the emergency room with predicted short term disability (42%). There were two deaths in the emergency department both due to falls.ConclusionChildhood injury surveillance system provides valuable in-depth information on child injuries. The majority of these unintentional childhood injuries occur at home; with falls, dog bites and burns being the most common types of unintentional childhood home injuries.SignificanceSpecific surveillance systems for child injuries can provide new and valuable information for countries like Pakistan.
Be more careful: a national programme for the prevention of domestic accidents in the elderly
Authors: von Amann G Paixão , Silva I 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundWithin the scope of the National Programme for Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention, domestic accidents are a major public health concern. In Portugal, injuries have a prevalence of 75% in people aged 65–74 and 90% in those aged over 75. Most accidents occur at home and falls are their major cause.MethodologyThe Directorate-General of Health in partnership with MAPFRE Foundation established a national capacity-building, step-by-step Plan. The 1st step was the issue of a Guide for the professionals and leaflets for the elderly. The 2nd step consisted of training sessions on ageing and promotion of enabling environments.The 3rd step was the implementation of a website, where the Health Centres can record their projects. The 4th step aimed at improving checklists in order to evaluate the house safety conditions, the individual risk of falls and at establishing a daily physical exercise programme. Finally, in the 5th step, a professional Theatre Company performed a plays on prevention of domestic accidents.OutcomesAll health professionals that attended training sessions acquired special skills and competences. Everyday new projects are emerging from the North down to the South of Portugal. From October 2011 till now (June 2012) wehave register on line 20 projects that are supporting 4800 people aged 65 and more that benefit of health evaluation, home evaluation and training programmes of physical activity.ConclusionsAlthough project are quite different from each other, they have in common a diagnosis involving older generations, clear objectives, measurable targets and final evaluation. Elderly supported by the project are MORE CAREFUL and falls reduced significantly. Working with the community, involving public and private partners is crucial for the sustainability of the project.
Victims of domestic injuries and suicide among women of reproductive age in Iran
Authors: Mohammadi R , Sadeghi-bazargani H , Fardiazar Z 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundAs a part of a national home safety programme in Iran, a surveillance system was designed and implemented in the whole country (especially in rural areas) to register those injuries which resulted in an emergency room visit.Aims/Objectives/PurposeThe aim of this study was to map out some epidemiological aspects of self inflicted and unintentional injuries among Iranian women at reproductive age using the national registry.MethodsInjury data were taken from a national-based injury surveillance system over the period 2000–2002. The study population comprised 31.5% of Iran's population.Results/OutcomesOf all the 307 064 home injuries reported during the years 2000–2002, about 152 600 cases (49.7%) involved women. About half of these women (76,474) belonged to reproductive age. The majority (42.7%) of injuries among reproductive age women were burn wounds followed by lacerations in 32.6%. Eighty-five percent of suicide cases were poisonings followed by 11% of cases being due to burns. However, 45.2% of burn suicides were fatal compared to only 0.89% fatality ratio for poisoning. Of all women victim cases, 1029 died, 174 victims became disabled and the remaining improved or were undergoing therapy when reported.Significance/Contribution to the FieldInjuries especially burns are a major health problem for women at reproductive age in Iran and should be considered as a priority for prevention measures.In addition, the surveillance system employed in this study can be discussed as a practical model for Low and Middle income countries.
Caretaker perceptions of childhood home safety and injury risks in Karachi, Pakistan: a qualitative study
Authors: de Ramirez S Stewart , Khan U , Chandran A , Zia N , Huang C , Razzak J , Hyder A 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundOver 875 000 deaths occur annually in children under the age of 18 due to unintentional injuries. Children under 5 years spend the predominant part of their day at home—an environment that poses the greatest amount of risk for their safety. Despite this risk, home-based injury prevention campaigns are primarily a westernised concept. Understanding caretaker perceptions of home safety and injury risks in low-income countries is central to effective prevention efforts.Aims/Objective/PurposeThe objective of this study was to understand caretaker perceptions of childhood home safety, injury risk, and optimal mechanisms for dissemination of childhood home safety prevention information in Karachi, Pakistan.MethodsIn-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with caretakers in multiple communities in Karachi, Pakistan. Data were coded by two independent coders, themes were identified, and a theoretical framework was developed.Results/OutcomeThirty in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions were conducted. Caretakers correctly identified risk factors and home safety hazards; however, they noted several barriers to addressing them such as financial hardship, lack of decision-making power as women, pressure from extended family living in the household, and lack of simple safety solutions. Caretakers felt that community campaigns via TV/radio could help change household attitudes toward prioritising child safety.Significance/Contribution to the FieldCaretakers in low-income countries like Pakistan are aware of home injury risks and safety hazards for children under 5; however, lack of community awareness and financial constraints make change difficult. Social campaigns should target decision-makers within households and emphasise low-cost solutions.
Safe trampolining—a persistent challenge
Authors: Ashby K , Cassell E 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundTrampolines are associated with 1100 hospital-treated child injuries annually in Victoria, almost two-thirds of which occur in home backyards. In the United States the American Academy of Paediatrics called for a ban on domestic trampolines. The Australian response was more measured and a revision of the Australian Standard was undertaken to reduce the risk of injury. A revised Standard concentrated on safety aspects such as spring padding design, protection of sharp edges, safety marking/labelling and mandated a minimum level of consumer safety information. It was expected that these measures would show a reduction in trampoline-related injury. Contemporaneously, trampolines that have a safety net have come on the Australian market.Aims/Objectives/PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate trends in hospital-treated trampoline injury in Victoria, during the period July 2002 to June 2011.MethodsHospital admissions for injuries involving trampolines were extracted from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset, while non-admitted cases were extracted from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset.Results/OutcomeFalls from trampolines increased by 98% in the study period, increasing yearly despite intervention. Most injury to children occurred in the domestic setting.Significance/Contribution to the FieldAnecdotal evidence from suppliers and manufacturers indicate substantial increase in the sale of new trampolines in recent years, after the introduction of new product styles. Therefore it is likely that trampoline usage levels have likewise increased over the 9 year period, which may account for some or all of the observed increase in frequency. High quality surveillance data is required to determine in injuries are associated with new style trampolines.
Fire and burn risks to children: exploring the role of housing quality
Authors: Gielen A , Shields W , McDonald E , Frattaroli S , Bishai D , Ma X 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundThe increased risk to low income, urban children from fire and burn injuries is well documented. However, little is known about how housing quality affects young children's injury risk, even though the majority of their injuries occur in and around the home in the US and globally.AimsTo describe the frequency and characteristics of substandard housing in homes with young children; and to examine the association between substandard housing and the presence of working smoke alarms and safe hot water temperatures.MethodsIn-home observations were made in 246 homes in low income urban neighbourhoods in Baltimore, MD using 46 items from the US Housing and Urban Development's Housing Quality Standards form.ResultsVirtually all homes (99%) failed the housing quality measure. Items with the highest failure rates were those related to heating and cooling systems; wall, ceiling and floor conditions; and sanitation and safety issues. Only 42% of the homes had a working smoke alarm on every level of the home; 62% had safe hot water temperatures. Logistic regression analyses found that the odds of having a working smoke alarm on every level increased by 18% and the odds of having safe hot water temperatures by 8% for every one item increase in the number of housing quality items passed.SignificanceThese results demonstrate that many low-income children may be at heightened risk for fire and scald burns simply by virtue of living in poor quality housing. Stronger collaboration between housing and injury prevention professionals is urgently needed.
Application of a new instrument to measure injuries and disability at the Iganga-Mayuge demographic surveillance system (im-dss), Uganda.
Authors: Bachani AM , Hyder AA , Kadobera D , Galiwango E , Rutebemberwa E , Bishai D , Wegener S , Morrow RH 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundMillions of injured individuals survive worldwide each year, often with life-long disabilities. However, the measurement of post-injury outcomes, especially in low-income settings remains a major deficiency in health information systems.Aims/Objective/PurposeWe apply a new short, 8-question instrument to screen for injuries and disabilities at the IM-DSS in Uganda.MethodsWe utilised a modified version of the short set of questions proposed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics. Information on injuries sustained within the prior year, and activity limitations was collected on all individuals over the age of 5 who were residents of the IM-DSS.Results/Outcomes57 247 individuals were included in the survey. 596 individuals reported having had an injury (62% Male; 38% Female). Of these, the majority were Road Traffic Injuries (41%), followed by falls, blunt injuries, and burns. Individuals between the ages of 15–59 years accounted for more than half of all injuries. 82% of injured persons also reported having a disability (OR 61; 95% CI 47.9 to 77.7; p<0.001). The most common types of difficulties reported were vision and mobility (lower and upper mobility).Significance/Contribution to the FieldThis study shows that the modified short set of questions can be readily applied to obtain estimates on the prevalence and types of post-injury disability at the population level—a step towards understanding the long-term consequences of injuries and the type of care needed to address them in the population. This instrument could be adapted for use in other such settings allowing for comparable estimates across different regions and populations.