bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES IN THE PREVENTION OF NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS
Authors: Laird I , McBride D , Legg S , Dickinson P , McLaren S , Gardner D 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundThis paper reports on the second part of a major study in New Zealand to identify effective strategies for the prevention of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).Aims/Objectives/PurposeThe objective of the project was to evaluate existing work-related interventions to reduce NIHL, to identify critical factors in the development and implementation of such strategies, and to propose strategies/interventions where current interventions are considered ineffective. In addition, the research examined those aspects of workplace culture that affect decision-making around NIHL.MethodsA systematic review of the research literature was completed specifically focussing on the effectiveness of interventions in the prevention of NIHL. Data collection involved surveys of specific industry sectors with ‘high, medium and low’ risk of NIHL. In addition to area noise measurements and personal dosimetry, assessments of the organisation's conformance to current noise management standards and safety climate data were undertaken.Results/OutcomeFive key effective strategies were identified from the literature. As anticipated, area and personal noise exposures were found to vary considerably within the ‘high risk’ (agriculture, manufacturing and construction; range: LAeq 8 h 80–90 dB), ‘moderate risk’ (cafes and restaurants) and ‘low risk’ sectors (pre-schools; range LAeq 8 h 70–80 dB). Most enterprises surveyed did not conform to the specific requirements of the noise management standard (Code of Practice). Safety climate was not the major factor in noise management within the enterprises.Significance/Contribution to the FieldThe research provided disappointing evidence on the implementation of noise management strategies in NZ businesses. As a consequence of the research, a comprehensive multi-level intervention strategy is proposed.
RISK FACTORS FOR FATALITIES IN SMALL UNDERGROUND COAL MINES IN THE U.S.
Authors: Weeks J , Swedler D , Pollack K , Agnew J 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundThe rate of fatal injuries for small underground coal mines (≤20 employees) has consistently been greater than the rate at larger mines. Despite differences between small and large mine characteristics, questions remain regarding reasons for the fatality differences.ObjectiveExplore whether small mines operated more intermittently than large mines, to determine if operational instability contributes to fatalities.MethodsA case control study using data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration from 1983 to 2006. Case mines (fatality; n = 139) were identified by the quarter in which a fatality occurred. Control mines (no fatality) were randomly selected (5:1), without replacement, and were matched with case mines if they were operating during the quarter in which the fatality occurred. Student's matched t-test was used to analyze differences between cases and controls for each of the four quarters prior to the fatality for key factors. Matched logistic regression analyses were also used.ResultsThere were no significant differences between cases and controls in the number of employees, hours per employee, or productivity for any of the four quarters prior to the fatality. Recent periods of low productivity, followed by the addition of new workers and an increase in hours worked, were found to be associated with an increased risk of fatality.SignificanceResults support the implications of a sudden increase in workforce size, overtime, and workload, presumably, to respond to increased needs for coal. Prevention strategies and policies are needed to address risks from operational instability and excess production.
MOTORCYCLE HELMET WEARING IN VIET NAM: LEGISLATION, COMPLIANCE AND CURRENT CHALLENGES
Authors: Passmore J , Phuong Nam N 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundWith motorcycles representing 95% of Viet Nam's 33 million vehicles, safety for this vulnerable user group is of crucial importance. Motorcycle helmets are an effective road safety intervention that has been implemented to various degrees in Viet Nam since 1995. Previous attempts were largely unsuccessful until the mandatory law took effect from 15 December 2007.PurposeTo review the history of motorcycle helmet legislation in Viet Nam including factors that have contributed to or impeded successful implementation and current challenges and potential solutions.MethodsVarious sources of information were utilised including primary and secondary data on helmet wearing and road trauma, Vietnamese road safety legislative documents and personal communication with key local road safety stakeholders.ResultsMore than 15 000 road traffic fatalities were reported in 2010 of which an estimated 75% are motorcycle riders and passengers. With the implementation of the national law in 2007, wearing increased from approximately 42% to more than 99% in select locations and importantly has been maintained. Whilst information is limited, small but significant reductions in the number of head injuries have been reported since the introduction of the law. Enforceability of helmet wearing for child passengers as well as the quality of helmets remain major ongoing challenges.SignificanceRoad trauma is a leading cause of death in Viet Nam, however the successful introduction of mandatory helmet legislation is a major milestone for improving road safety and represents important experience for other low and middle income countries where a large proportion travel by motorcycle.
TRAUMATIC SUBTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES. CLASSIFICATION, INTERVENTION, COMPLICATIONS AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
Authors: Gosling C , Richardson M , Brown G , Hau R , Pirpiris M , Edwards E 
Published: October 2012

Background and AimFemoral fracture outcomes studies have focused on fractures of the femoral neck, shaft and distal femur. The aim of this study was to describe subtrochanteric fractures collected consecutively in a trauma registry, and to report the treatment methods and patient outcomes at 12-months.MethodsData for all patients with an ICD-10 injury code for femur below the level of neck of femur admitted between May 2005 and June 2009 were obtained from the Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry database. Data were collected at baseline (patient, injury, x-ray and hospital details) and at 12-months (bony union, complications, health related quality of life—short form-12 summary scores for physical and mental component summary (PCS-12, MCS-12)).ResultsSubtrochanteric femoral fractures were identified in 124 patients from 884 fracture codes (54% female; average (SD) age=58.6(25.9) years). Low falls were the most common cause of injury (44%), with most (65%) of the cases recording isolated femoral fractures. Most patients underwent fixation using an intramedullary sliding hip screw (55%). Fracture union was confirmed in 69 patients (average union time: 223.7 days). Non-union was identified in 45% and 16% of the cases followed-up at 6 and 12-months respectively. Complications were identified in 38% of the reviewed cases. Physical function scores (PCS-12: 38.4(10.6)) were lower than population scores, while mental function scores were similar (MCS-12: 49.3(12.4)).SignificanceThe long time to union outcomes and high complication rates in this registry based consecutive cohort study is not consistent with the reported literature.
USING CROWD-SOURCING TO DRIVE INNOVATION IN INJURY PREVENTION—RESULTS OF A PILOT PROGRAMME
Authors: Murray N , Langlands G 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundInjuries outside of work and road make up 80% of claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), about half of which are for injuries sustained in a fall. ACC claims data showed that the working-age population account for 60% of the cost of falls, yet there are very few evidence-based interventions available for falls prevention in this population group. ACC trialled using crowd-sourcing techniques to generate new falls prevention ideas.Aims/Objectives/PurposeDevelop an innovation programme, to engage with a range of people not traditionally associated with injury prevention to generate a number of novel ideas to trial and where successful roll out nationally.MethodsACC launched the Idea Nation initiative which employed a number of crowd-sourcing initiatives including; brainstorming forums, a national competition and online collaboration to build up raw ideas.Results/OutcomeThe initiative is still live, so final results are not available at the time of presentation, however early findings are encouraging. Preliminary results indicate that crowd-sourcing can be effectively used to engage with the community and generate new ideas to injury issues.Significance/Contribution to the FieldThe Idea Nation initiative will interest those working in and developing injury prevention and community engagement programmes.
ASSESSING FIELDWORKER RELIABILITY IN A NATIONAL STUDY OF INJURY MORTALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Matzopoulos R , Prinsloo M , Laubscher R , Gwebushe N , Pillay-Van Wyk V , Bradshaw D 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundVital registration data indicate that injury deaths have decreased since the first National Burden of Disease (NBD) study in South Africa for 2000 but it is not clear which injury types may have been affected as a high proportion have undetermined intent. In order to quantity injury types, as part of the second NBD study, we conducted a national survey of non-natural deaths presenting to South African mortuaries in 2009.Aims/Objectives/PurposeTo test inter-observer reliability between fieldworkers.MethodsLay interviewers were trained to identify the external cause of injury and mobile telephones were used for data capture. The main study sampled 22 000 records from 45 mortuaries. Reliability was tested by two field-workers independently collecting data from the same folder on the same day for 5% of the sample. The proportion of potential agreement beyond chance between two data collectors extracting the same data was determined using the Kappa score, with a value of 0.6 denoting substantial and a value of greater than 0.8 denoting near perfect agreement.Results/OutcomeBased on data from 1025 cases, the agreement on the manner of death showed high agreement with a Kappa of 0.861 (95% CI 0.837 to 0.884). There was 88.8% agreement on the detailed information about the external cause of the injury death.Significance/Contribution to the FieldFieldworker coding errors are a potential source of bias in injury surveys, particularly when information is interpreted from secondary sources. The current study provides a simple and cost-effective method with which to measure the reliability of information.
UNINTENTIONAL INJURY MORTALITY IN INDIA, 2005: NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE MORTALITY SURVEY OF 1.1 MILLION HOMES
Authors: Jagnoor J , Suraweera W , Keay L , Ivers R , Thakur J,S , Jha, P 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundUnintentional injuries are an important cause of death in India. However, no reliable nationally representative estimates of unintentional injury deaths are available.AimTo estimate total unintentional injury mortality in India using results from a nationally representative survey of the causes of deaths.MethodsUnintentional injury deaths were examined in a nationally representative mortality survey covering 123 000 deaths occurring in 1.1 million homes. Trained non-medical field staff to interview all households in which a death had occurred from 2001 to 2003 within its Sample Registration System. Structured field reports detailing the events preceding death were obtained from living relatives of the deceased and emailed to two of 130 trained physicians who independently assigned an underlying cause to each death. Cause specific mortality proportions were applied to all-cause mortality estimates from the United Nations for the year 2005.ResultsIn the year 2005, unintentional injury caused 648 000 deaths (7% of all deaths; 58/100 000 population). Mortality rates were higher among males than females, and in rural versus urban areas. Road traffic injuries (185 000 deaths; 29% of unintentional injury deaths), falls (160 000 deaths, 25%) and drowning (73 000 deaths, 11%) were the three leading causes of unintentional injury mortality. The highest unintentional mortality rates were in those aged 70 years or older (410/100 000) mostly due to falls.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF, AND SURVEILLANCE OF, MEDIA WORKER HOMICIDE IN IRAQ (2003–2011)
Authors: Collinson L , Wilson N 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundThere is controversy over estimates of the civilian death toll associated with violent conflict in Iraq.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology of media worker homicide in Iraq in order to describe its relationship with the homicide level for all civilians (and to identify risk factors).MethodsData on the homicides occurring from 2003 to 2011 were systematically collated from five international databases and analysed.ResultsIn this time period, the annual number of homicides of media workers rose (peaking at n=47 in 2007) and then declined (n=9 in 2011). The peak years (2006–2007) for media worker homicides matched the peak years for estimated civilian fatalities. Out of a total of 194 homicides, 85% were Iraqi nationals and 61% worked for Iraqi media agencies (the latter increased over time relative to the first 5-year time period, p=0.02). Some were killed whilst reporting (36%), but most (64%), were targeted in other settings (eg, when commuting or at home). Common perpetrators were: political groups (51%), and coalition forces (9%), but this was often unknown (27%). None of the homicides during this period have been legally ‘solved’. For each targeted attack causing a media worker homicide, another two people were also killed on average (range 0–85).SignificanceThe relatively high quality of data on media worker homicides, suggests that routine surveillance of this sentinel population may provide an indicator of trends in societal violence. But in itself media worker homicide in Iraq is a major problem that needs urgent preventive measures.
THE NATIONAL CORONIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM: A DECADE OF CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Authors: Pearse J 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundNew Zealand coronial data will soon be added to the Australian collection of reported deaths on the National Coroners Information system (NCIS). Data from this internet-based system are accessible to approved users to inform death investigations and public health and safety.Aim/Objectives/PurposeTo review progress and barriers to meeting NCIS objectives and to highlight achievements based on NCIS data.MethodsReviews were conducted of user outcomes, coroners' findings, information requests, and a literature search to identify and quantify NCIS uptake. Barriers to progress were assessed in terms of inconsistencies in data, timeliness, availability of attached reports and coding errors.Results/OutcomeMore than 50 journal publications were found to be based on NCIS data, and there have been many resulting citations. NCIS data has influenced policy, regulation and safety campaigns in the areas of self-extinguishing cigarettes, child blind cord strangulation, and mobility scooters. In terms of barriers, to date only four of eight Australian jurisdictions are using a standardised national police form, between 20 and 30% of cases quality assured have at least one coding inconsistency needing correction, and some jurisdictions are not yet providing comprehensive full documentation for system attachment.Significance/Contribution to the FieldDespite being a relatively mature information system, the NCIS has scope for further development. The system is widely used and has contributed to a considerable body of research and publications and has impacted on important regulations and policies.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF SAFETY LAWS AND THEIR ENFORCEMENT
Authors: Miller T 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundGuidelines for economic analysis of public programs ignore issues around legally restricting behavior.Aims/Objectives/PurposeTo inform evaluators and advocates about how to handle the issues.MethodsApplication of economic principles; review of benefit-cost analyses to identify methods and examples.Results/OutcomeLaws shape or restrict personal choices. They put the common good above individual desires. Economic evaluation of public health laws can require valuing discomfort, inconvenience, reduced mobility, increased travel time, restricted freedom of choice, or lost access to accustomed pleasures. Wage gains due to impacts on education or life skills are monetary benefits distinct from the value of injury reduction. Gains foregone when enforcement prevents illegal acts, however, are not costs to wrongdoers from society's viewpoint. Whether to count wage losses that a criminal experiences while incarcerated is unclear. Estimated costs of approving mandates are 2.9%-7.1% of the first-year direct costs imposed on the public. Implementation and administration cost another 4.2%-4.6%. Enforcement and publicity affect cost and effectiveness. Evaluating safety device mandates requires estimating misuse, including civil disobedience, legal loopholes, discomfort, and unintentional misuse. Laws can have unforeseen or unevaluated consequences (e.g., risky sex reduced by a youth driving curfew). Champions of laws need to understand which savings they can spend and which costs they must fund. Other than sin taxes that generate revenue, public health laws are unlikely to ease a budget crisis in the short run.Significance/Contribution to the fieldEconomic analysis can decisively influence passage and enforcement. This paper systematizes guidance for conducting those analyses.
A PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL FOR INJURY SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL: PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FIELD
Authors: Barss P , Larder A 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundMany public health jurisdictions experience difficulty developing a public health model to rapidly detect, investigate, and control injury incidents and hazards. As a result, severe injuries and disabilities from unsafe home, work, traffic, and public environments are seldom reported to medical health officers (MHOs) and health authorities, resulting in failure of reporting and control.ObjectivesTo consider roles of regional health authorities, provincial authorities and ministries, and university units in the context of the regulatory reporting framework and multisectorial ownership for public health injury surveillance and control.MethodsTypical accountabilities, models of surveillance and control, regulations, ownership/accountability, and resources were contrasted for injury and communicable diseases (CD) at regional and provincial levels in a large Canadian province.ResultsMHOs are accountable for prescribed conditions associated with injury and illness. Unlike for CDs, there is no regulated prescribed conditions list for injury to identify and control health hazards. Hence, health authorities do not have designated injury units with licensed professionals to receive reports, monitor, and investigate injuries, and reporting of even severe incidents is rare. For CDs, licensed nurses and environmental health officers in each of five health regions monitor incidents and outbreaks of main agents, from laboratories, infection control, and physicians. MHOs are notified immediately of cases and potential outbreaks requiring action within their region of jurisdiction, as regulated by the public health act. Provincial support is available from hundreds of skilled professionals in the provincial disease control agency and laboratories; outbreaks affecting multiple regions are coordinated. CD surveillance and control are largely within the health sector, while for injury multiple sectors and accountabilities are involved.SignificanceReporting, investigation, and control of injury hazards is limited, even in jurisdictions with advanced CD surveillance. Injury reporting, including a prescribed conditions list and associated regulations, surveillance capabilities, methodologies, and multisectorial accountabilities require development and funding within jurisdictions with MHOs accountable for control. University units provide research on issues of concern, but lack jurisdiction to replace regional surveillance and control by licensed staff, as for CDs. Provincial health authority/ministry expert support and coordination for regions is essential.
PARTICIPATORY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT GIVES VOICE TO NON-DRIVING PACIFIC, MAORI AND ASIAN YOUTH
Authors: Ward A , Orsini A , Baggett T , Weiss H 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundYoung people have the highest crash injury risk of any age group. Highlighting use of active/public transport is an appealing solution to delaying driving among this cohort.Aims/Objectives/PurposeWe aim to create discussion surrounding transport issues that is generated and propagated by youth themselves. Our objective is to learn from the experiences of youth who use alternative means of transport, and apply this knowledge to future interventions focused on delayed driving.MethodsNine non-drivers aged 16–24 were recruited for a project utilising the Photovoice participatory photography method as a research/health promotion tool. Photovoice participants take photographs of their daily environment; by sharing their photos and stories, they use the power of the visual image to communicate their experiences. This method is an internationally recognised tool to advocate for policy and behaviours that reduces inequalities by giving those who don't have much decision making power a voice.Results/OutcomeThe photographs were narrowed down to a small number of self-reported favourites, and we worked with participants to write a narrative for each photo. A public photography exhibit was held, making public the issues surrounding the transport choices of this group of young people, extending their audience and giving participants a platform to be heard.Significance/Contribution to the fieldWhen it comes to crashes, Pacific/Maori youth suffer an increased risk. Graduated Driver Licensing policies suggest that reducing exposure to car use is an under-tapped health strategy to reduce the burden of youth road trauma. This project uniquely focuses on nondriving youth in hopes that it will also encourage their peers to drive less, avoiding this harmful exposure.