Using local injury surveillance for community-based injury prevention: an analysis of Scandinavian WHO Safe Community and Canadian Safe Community Foundation programmes

In Finland, the Finnish Association for Swimming Instruction and Life Saving (SUH) and Statistics Finland (SF) both provide nationwide data on unintentional drowning. The SUH database relies on rapid reporting from a newspaper clipping service and additional local police information, whereas the SF database relies on the later release of the death certificate information, which is based on extensive medico-legal investigation. The aim of the study was to explore the main differences between the SUH and SF databases for drowning and to evaluate the capacity of the former to characterize drowning events in Finland from 1998 to 2000. Computerized files of death certificates tabulated by SF were linked with the SUH database by deterministic methods. SF and SUH databases allowed the identification of 704 and 567 unintentional drownings, respectively, giving an unintentional drowning rate of 4.5 and 3.6/100?000 per year. Of the 704 drownings described by SF, 418 (59.4%) were also found in the SUH database. The SUH database markedly underreported drowning fatalities in certain settings, such as bath, ditch and swimming pool drownings; fall- and land-traffic-related drownings; and drownings occurring in South Finland. The narrative text of SUH drownings contributed limited information to characterize the drowning events. It was concluded that the newspaper-based SUH data provide more timely data on individual drownings but are not representative of all drownings. Conversely, the SF vital statistics data are more accurate but may take up to 2 years to become available. Both SUH and SF data provide little detailed information on drowning events. A multidisciplinary national surveillance system for drowning is necessary to provide more accurate and timely drowning data, analyse risk factors and design follow-up studies for developing and monitoring prevention strategies.     

Epidemiologic features and intervention effect of fall injury among rural school-aged children in southwest China: a short-term cohort study

ABSTRACT

Falls are the top one type in all unintentional injuries. In this study, we aim to explore the epidemiological characteristics of falls and assess the intervention effect. Our research had interviewed 2854 rural children in southwest China. Then, we used School–Family–Individual (SFI) comprehensive education model to conduct an intervention among 1506 children and follow up them for one year. The changes in injury knowledge and incidence rate before and after intervention were compared. We found the fall injury was 37.32% (178/477) and ranked top one in the total injuries. After intervention, the children's fall-injuries-related knowledge was significantly increased by 15.29 percent (P < 0.001). While falls incidence significantly decreased after- intervention (6.24% vs. 3.93%; P < 0.001). From the results we concluded that the falls rate was high and was the prior reason of all injuries. SFI intervention model can effectively reduce the incidence of the fall injury.     

Impact of the Safe Community program in Harstad on the incidence of injuries

Objectives Since 1987, the Harstad community in Norway has run an injury prevention program according to the Safe Community approach. The effectiveness of this approach in reducing injury rates is poorly documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Harstad program on the incidence of injuries. Methods We used data from the National Injury register of Norway and compared age-adjusted incidence rates and standardized rate ratios of injuries in Harstad and three control communities for the period 1992-1997. Results Harstad had the second highest rates for both all injuries and fractures. No reduction in the incidence of injuries in Harstad was observed from 1992-1997. The injury rates in 1992-1997 were similar to the rates recorded in 1985/86. Conclusions The injury prevention program in Harstad has not reduced overall injury rates. The Safe Community concept is an organizational strategy, but implementation of proven and targeted risk reduction measures will be needed if community-based programs are to result in risk reductions.     

The future of injury prevention in Asia and the Pacific

Unintentional injury is gaining attention in the broad Asia-Pacific region, primarily but not solely associated with rapid and disturbing growth in traffic injury.

Objective. This paper considers the nature and features of the injury problem and of current prevention efforts that are likely to be significant in injury prevention in the Asia Pacific region.

Method. Prior to the first Asia-Pacific Injury Prevention Conference an e-mail discussion on the challenges and needs of injury prevention was conducted and a discussion paper circulated. The analysis was presented at the conference and the issues were taken up at a special regional network meeting, in the conference sessions and in informal discussion.

Results. The paper outlines the injury situation facing the broad Asia-Pacific region, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries, outlining the size and nature of the problem. The challenges to prevention are lack of awareness and misconceptions about injury, weak intent and low levels of effort and a lack of capacity. The positive elements of work under way or in prospect are described.

Conclusion. The key tasks are to apply what is already known: to test and trial interventions in low- and middle-income countries; to identify the key causes of injury within the broad categories; and to foster and build partnerships.     

全国31省市利用外资效果评价的实证研究

本文利用因子分析方法,对全国31省市利用外资的规模和质量进行了实证研究。结果表明,综合来看,沿海省份利用外资的总体效果要高于中西部地区,而且,沿海省份利用外资的规模要大于中西部地区,但是,部分沿海省份利用外资的质量却落后于中西部地区。     

Change Theory as an Evaluation Tool for a Community Action Board of Directors

The dynamics of a board of directors resemble those of other groups. They are either positive or negative in their flow of communication, their dispute resolution style, their problem solving ability and their ability to make decisions. This article discusses a model of change theory that is used in evaluating the effectiveness of a board of directors and assisting it to make changes for the betterment of the organization it serves.     

Road safety perspectives among employees of a multinational corporation in urban India: local context for global injury prevention

In rapidly developing economies, like urban India, where road traffic injury rates are among the world's highest, the corporate workplace offers a non-traditional venue for road safety interventions. In partnership with a major multinational corporation (MNC) with a large Indian workforce, this study aimed to elicit local employee perspectives on road safety to inform a global corporate health platform. The safety attitudes and behaviours of 75 employees were collected through self-report survey and focus groups in the MNC offices in Bangalore and Pune. Analysis of these data uncovered incongruity between employee knowledge of safety strategies and their enacted safety behaviours and identified local preference for interventions and policy-level actions. The methods modelled by this study offer a straightforward approach for eliciting employee perspective for local road safety interventions that fit within a global strategy to improve employee health. Study findings suggest that MNCs can employ a range of strategies to improve the road traffic safety of their employees in settings like urban India including: implementing corporate traffic safety policy, making local infrastructure changes to improve road and traffic conditions, advocating for road safety with government partners and providing employees with education and access to safety equipment and safe transportation options.     

Preventing falls in the elderly living in a deprived area: Evaluation of a community intervention

Statement of the Problem While greatly easing the shopping process for parents, transportation of children in shopping carts also represents a hazard for injuries. Effective accident prevention measures would therefore be desirable. Methods 137 shopping cart-related accidents, the 138 victims of which presented to an Austrian Pediatric Surgical Casualty Department over a period of nine years, were reviewed retrospectively by analysis of the patient charts and of 79 questionnaires returned, correctly filled in, by the family. Results The yearly number varied between 10 and 21 without a falling trend. While 43% of the children were 2 years of age or younger, 18% were older than 4. Three-quarters of the latter had been placed inside the trolley although the maximum permitted weight is 15 kg. Falls out of the trolley comprised two-thirds of all accidents, with the child standing up as the leading cause; these were mostly falls from the basket, followed in almost 20% of cases by toppling over of the entire shopping cart. The youngest children – almost all regularly placed in the integrated seat – were at a special risk for this kind of accident, which frequently occurred in the car park. Lessons learned from the accidents were limited almost exclusively to behavioral changes implemented by the parents. Current European Standards have obviously not taken the main accident mechanisms into account, even though these have repeatedly been described in the literature. Conclusion We believe that technical improvements in the present shopping cart design are desirable to reduce the risk of accidents. Our main suggestions include: solid child seats with integrated footrests, obligatory installation and use of safety belts, and construction of trolleys with a lower center of gravity and a broader wheel base.     

Community safety promotion at local,regional, and national levels. Summary report from a workshop on local organizing and societal contributions with regard to the development of Safe Communities,held at the Third International Conference on Safe Communities,June 6-8, 1994, Harstad,Norway

Aim The aim of this review was to determine the extent to which the effectiveness of countermeasures for preventing alpine skiing injuries has been evaluated. Methods The methodology involved a critical review based on the available international literature and sports equipment standards, as well as consultation with experts in the field. Where possible, the review focused on controlled trials. Results Key injury countermeasures in skiing identified in this review include physical conditioning programmes, ski-bindings and their timely release, professional adjustment of ski-bindings and the use of mechanical testing devices for this, design of ski pole handles, helmets for children (and adults), ski patrollers, skier education, speed control on the slopes and safe lifting equipment. A tabular categorisation of the types of evidence for the effectiveness of injury countermeasures is presented. This demonstrates that the weight of evidence is generally based on a combination of data-based or biomechanical testing evidence and informed opinion/anecdotal evidence. There is minimal evidence based on controlled trials in the field. The most evaluated countermeasures are ski bindings and ski pole handles. Properly adjusted ski bindings have the potential for a 3.5-fold reduction in lower extremity injuries, particularly knee injuries. Ski pole handle design needs further innovation and attention. An immediate concern is the generally poorer standard of children’s equipment, ski bindings and their adjustment. Conclusion Skiing is a sport that is growing in popularity, but with a need for controlled trials of its injury prevention countermeasures. This review provides a basis for further action in injury prevention research, development and implementation.     

Prevention of childhood poisoning in the home: overview of systematic reviews and a systematic review of primary studies

Unintentional poisoning is a significant child public health problem. This systematic overview of reviews, supplemented with a systematic review of recently published primary studies synthesizes evidence on non-legislative interventions to reduce childhood poisonings in the home with particular reference to interventions that could be implemented by Children's Centres in England or community health or social care services in other high income countries. Thirteen systematic reviews, two meta-analyses and 47 primary studies were identified. The interventions most commonly comprised education, provision of cupboard/drawer locks, and poison control centre (PCC) number stickers. Meta-analyses and primary studies provided evidence that interventions improved poison prevention practices. Twenty eight per cent of studies reporting safe medicine storage (OR from meta-analysis 1.57, 95% CI 1.22–2.02), 23% reporting safe storage of other products (OR from meta-analysis 1.63, 95% CI 1.22–2.17) and 46% reporting availability of PCC numbers (OR from meta-analysis 3.67, 95% CI 1.84–7.33) demonstrated significant effects favouring the intervention group. There was a lack of evidence that interventions reduced poisoning rates. Parents should be provided with poison prevention education, cupboard/drawer locks and emergency contact numbers to use in the event of a poisoning. Further research is required to determine whether improving poison prevention practices reduces poisoning rates.     

An epidemiological study of injury in a low socioeconomic context: implications for prevention

Epidemiological information identifying injury magnitude and risks is vital for the development of prevention and safety promotion programmes, especially for low income, marginalised communities where the incidence of injury tends to be disproportionately high. This paper, accordingly, reports on a household survey, conducted in an informal settlement southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, and designed to gather epidemiological data for the purposes of informing the development of appropriate community-based injury prevention and safety promotion programmes. Data were collected for a one-year period prior to October 1998. An analysis of the data identified the causes of injuries, which residents were most at risk, and where and when injuries most often occurred. By way of conclusion, we make a few recommendations for preventive measures.     

实践教育体制下财经类专业人才评价体系研究

经济和信息的全球化,给我国经济快速发展带来了新的机遇,同时也给我国财经类人才培养带来了全新的挑战。财经类专业作为应用型和实践性很强的专业,应侧重于高层次、应用型经济管理类人才的培养。在实践教育体制下,构建财经类专业人才培养评级体系必须突破现行评估体系结构性问题限制。高校应加快推进教育改革,优化人才评价方式,更新人才评价内容,扩大人才评价主体,建立科学的评价过程,使学生的知识、实践能力和综合素质满足经济社会发展需求。     

大型国有企业管理人员岗位评价因素认同度的研究

本研究对某大型国有企业管理人员岗位评价在薪酬设计与管理中的意义进行分析,提出国有企业开展岗位评价的重要性。在文献检索和对50多个重要岗位的工作分析的基础上,设计出某大型国企《岗位价值因素评价问卷》,根据问卷调查和因素分析的结果,提取出大型国有企业管理人员岗位评价因素体系,并对研究结果在企业薪酬设计与管理中的应用进行了讨论。