Showing items 301 - 320 of 321

Your selections:

Differences in injury rates in child motor vehicle passengers in rural and urban areas in New South Wales, July 2000 to June 2004

- Du, Wei, Finch, Caroline, Hayen, Andrew, Hatfield, Julie

  • Authors: Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Hayen, Andrew , Hatfield, Julie
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 31, no. 5 (2007), p. 483-488
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Objectives: To investigate whether the pattern of hospitalised injuries in injured child motor vehicle passengers involved in traffic crashes differs in rural and urban residents of New South Wales (NSW). Methods: This study compared injuries of hospitalised child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural areas with those from urban areas. The NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection (ISC), a population-based dataset, was used to select cases for the period of July 2000 to June 2004. The hospitalised injury rate was calculated according to urban/rural status using Poisson regression, injury rate ratios (IRR) comparing rural and urban children were computed overall and for specific injury types. Results: Overall, 1,286 children (aged 0-15 years) residing in NSW were identified from the NSW ISC internally linked datasets as being separated from hospital for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash. The overall hospitalised injury incidence rates for child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural and urban NSW areas were 46.75 (95% CI 36.63-59.66) and 20.13 (95% CI 17.94-22.58) per 100,000 children respectively. The rural/urban IRR for comparing the incidence of hospitalisation was significantly elevated (IRR=2.10, 95% CI 1.78-2.48).The IRR was also significantly elevated across most injury types. The largest risk disparity between rural and urban children was in 9-12 year-olds (IRR=2.33, 95% CI 1.73-3.13). Conclusion and Implications: There is an elevated injury incidence rate in rural resident children, compared with their urban counterparts. This differential should be addressed in future road safety initiatives. © 2007 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2007 Public Health Association of Australia.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005762

Hospital admissions following presentations to emergency departments for a fracture in older people

- Boufous, Soufiane, Finch, Caroline, Close, Jacqueline, Day, Lesley, Lord, Stephen

  • Authors: Boufous, Soufiane , Finch, Caroline , Close, Jacqueline , Day, Lesley , Lord, Stephen
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 13, no. 3 (2007), p. 211-214
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The aim of this paper is to estimate the proportion of older people who are hospitalised following a presentation to an emergency department for hip, pelvic and wrist fractures. The findings indicate that hospitalisation data do not accurately reflect the incidence of low-trauma fractures, particularly wrist and pelvic fractures, in older people.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005768

Hydrodilatation (distension arthrography) : A long-term clinical outcome series

- Watson, Lyn, Bialocerkowski, Andrea, Dalziel, Rodney, Balster, Simon, Burke, Frank, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Watson, Lyn , Bialocerkowski, Andrea , Dalziel, Rodney , Balster, Simon , Burke, Frank , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 41, no. 3 (2007), p. 167-173
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Objectives: To describe and compare the medium to long-term effectiveness of hydrodilatation and post-hydrodilatation physiotherapy in patients with primary and secondary glenohumeral joint contracture associated with rotator cuff pathology. Methods: Patients with primary and secondary glenohumeral contractures associated with rotator cuff pathology were recruited into a 2-year study. They all underwent hydrodilatation, followed by a structured physiotherapy programme. Patients were assessed at baseline, 3 days, 1 week, 3 months, 1 year and 2 years after hydrodilatation with primary outcome measures (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Shoulder Disability Index and percentage rating of “normal” function; SD%) and secondary outcome measures (range of shoulder abduction, external rotation and hand behind back). Comparisons in recovery were made between the primary and secondary glenohumeral contracture groups at all timeframes and for all outcome measures. Results: A total of 53 patients (23 with primary and 30 with secondary glenohumeral contractures) were recruited into the study. At the 2-year follow-up, 12 patients dropped out from the study. At baseline, the two contracture groups were similar with respect to their demographic and physical characteristics. The two groups of patients recovered in a similar fashion over the 2-year follow-up period. A significant improvement was observed in all outcomes measures over this period (p<0.01), so that both function and range of movement increased. The rate of improvement was dependent on the outcome measure that was used. Conclusions: Hydrodilatation and physiotherapy increase shoulder motion in individuals with primary and secondary glenohumeral joint contracture associated with rotator cuff pathology. This benefit continues to improve or is maintained in the long term, up to 2 years after hydrodilatation.
  • Description: 2003007687

Influence of environmental and ground conditions on injury risk in rugby league

- Gabbett, Tim, Minbashian, Amirali, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Gabbett, Tim , Minbashian, Amirali , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 10, no. 4 (2007), p. 211-218
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: While the theoretical basis for a relationship between ground and environmental conditions and injury in rugby league is compelling, corroborative research is far from substantive. This study investigated the relationship between environmental and ground conditions and injury risk in 156 semi-professional rugby league players. Injuries were prospectively recorded from 157 training sessions and 137 competitive matches played over two consecutive competitive seasons. Daily weather variables (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall) were recorded, while ground conditions were subjectively rated as heavy, slippery, firm, or hard. Regression analysis was conducted to examine the independent effects of the environmental variables, ground condition, session type (training, match), and the interaction between ground condition and session type on injury. Higher temperatures, greater humidity, and greater levels of rainfall were all associated (p < .05) with softer ground conditions. A higher 365-day rainfall was associated with fewer injuries. Both the number of injuries and injury rate were higher in matches than in training sessions and when ground conditions were harder. For both number of injuries and injury rate, there was a statistically significant interaction between ground condition and session type, with harder ground conditions resulting in a higher injury rate in matches, but not training sessions. In conclusion, in rugby league, ground conditions do not influence training injuries, however, both harder ground conditions and less rainfall are associated with a greater number of match injuries. © 2007 Sports Medicine Australia.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005871

Priorities for reducing the burden of injuries in sport : The example of Australian football

- Gabbe, Belinda, Finch, Caroline, Cameron, Peter

  • Authors: Gabbe, Belinda , Finch, Caroline , Cameron, Peter
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 10, no. 5 (2007), p. 273-276
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The promotion of safe sports participation has become a public health issue due to rising obesity rates and the potential for parental concerns about safety to inhibit sports participation. The safety of Australian football and its elite game, the Australian Football League (AFL), is often the focus of media commentary. Participation in the modified version of the game (Auskick) has been shown to be safer but by the time children reach the under-15 age group, adult rules are in place and the umbrella of safety provided by modified rules is gone. Figures released recently by the AFL suggest that injury rates at the elite-level are at an historical low, but equivalent information for the more than 400,000 non-elite participants is not available. Published literature related to preventing injuries in Australian football highlights a significant knowledge gap with respect to the aetiology of injuries in non-elite participants and only a very small evidence base for prevention of injuries in this sport. Gains in reducing the public health impact of football injuries, and injury-related barriers to Australian football participation, will only come from substantial investment in large-scale trials at the non-elite level, and a co-ordinated and multidisciplinary approach to dealing with safety and injury issues across all levels of play. Active and committed collaboration of key stakeholders such as government health agencies, peak sports bodies, sports administrators, clinicians, researchers, clubs, coaches and the participants themselves will be necessary. © 2007 Sports Medicine Australia.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005774

Trends in hospitalisation rates for road traffic injuries in child motor vehicle passengers in New South Wales, July 1998 June 2005

- Du, Wei, Finch, Caroline, Hayen, Andrew, Hatfield, Julie

  • Authors: Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Hayen, Andrew , Hatfield, Julie
  • Date: 2007
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Medical Journal of Australia Vol. 187, no. 9 (Nov 2007), p. 515-518
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Objective: To analyse changes in the incidence of injuries requiring hospitalisation for child passengers in motor vehicle crashes. Design, setting and participants: Population-based study of children (aged 0-15 years) residing in New South Wales and admitted to hospital for injuries resulting from a traffic crash in the period 1 July 1998 - 30 June 2005, identified from the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection. Main outcome measures: Age-standardised rates of hospitalisation for injuries, and trends by inpatient demographics, severity of injuries, and injury sites and types. Results: 2297 children were hospitalised for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash over the study period. The overall hospitalisation rate for injuries was relatively constant, with a non-significant decline of -0.4% (95% Cl, -3.1% to 2.3%). The rate of hospitalisation for serious injuries also declined non-significantly (-5.5% [95% Cl, -11.8% to 1.1%]). Only hospitalisation rates for traumatic brain injuries declined significantly (-11.1% [95% Cl, -19.0% to -2.8%]) over the study period. Conclusion: The rate of hospitalisation for injuries to NSW-resident child motor vehicle passengers due to traffic crashes has not significantly decreased. High hospitalisation rates and the subsequent burden to the community and public health system make further injury prevention efforts for child motor vehicle passengers a priority.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005874

Predictors of hamstring injury at the elite level of Australian football

- Gabbe, Belinda, Bennell, Kim, Finch, Caroline, Wajswelner, Henry, Orchard, John

  • Authors: Gabbe, Belinda , Bennell, Kim , Finch, Caroline , Wajswelner, Henry , Orchard, John
  • Date: 2006
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports Vol. 16, no. 1 (2006), p. 7-13
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Hamstring injuries are the most common injury sustained by elite Australian football players and result in substantial costs because of missed training time, unavailability for matches and lost player payments. Evidence to support proposed risk factors for hamstring injury is generally lacking, limiting the development of appropriate prevention strategies. To identify intrinsic risk factors for hamstring injury at the elite level of Australian football. A prospective cohort of 222 players underwent baseline measurement in the form of a self-report questionnaire and a musculo-skeletal screen during the pre-season period of the 2002 Australian football season. Injury surveillance and exposure data were collected for the full season. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of hamstring injury in this group of players. Thirty-one players sustained a hamstring injury. A past history (previous 12 months) of hamstring injury and increasing age were found to be independent predictors of hamstring injury. Older players and those with a previous history of hamstring injury are target groups for further research and implementation of injury prevention strategies. Restricted ankle dorsiflexion range of movement warrants consideration in the development of prevention programs for hamstring injury.
  • Description: 2003004976

The epidemiology of hospitalised wrist fractures in older people, New South Wales, Australia

- Boufous, Soufiane, Finch, Caroline, Lord, Stephen, Close, Jacqueline, Gothelf, Todd, Walsh, William

  • Authors: Boufous, Soufiane , Finch, Caroline , Lord, Stephen , Close, Jacqueline , Gothelf, Todd , Walsh, William
  • Date: 2006
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Bone Vol. 39, no. 5 (2006), p. 1144-1148
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The epidemiology and trends in wrist fracture admissions to public and private acute hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, between July 1993 and June 2003 were examined using routinely collected hospital separations statistics. During the study period, the number of hospital separations for wrist fractures increased by 71% in men, an average yearly increase of 6.5%, and by 43% in women, an average yearly increase of 3.9%. A modest, but significant, increase in age-specific and age-standardised hospitalisation rates for wrist fractures was also observed. Whilst the majority of wrist fractures were due to falls, the proportion of falls-related wrist fractures decreased significantly over time. This decrease was more pronounced in males and was accompanied by a rise in the proportion of wrist fractures resulting from high energy mechanisms such as transport, violence and machinery-related incidents. The difference in hospitalised wrist fracture rates between men and women could not be explained solely on the basis of the role played by osteoporosis, indicating the need for more research to improve our understanding of the underlying factors of this type of fracture in older people.
  • Description: 2003004961

Do squash players accurately report use of appropriate protective eyewear?

- Eime, Rochelle, Finch, Caroline, Owen, Neville, McCarty, Catherine

  • Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Finch, Caroline , Owen, Neville , McCarty, Catherine
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 8, no. 3 (2005), p. 352-356
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Self-report surveys are a common method of collecting data on protective equipment use in sport. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of self-reported use of appropriate protective eyewear by squash players. Surveys of squash players' appropriate protective eyewear behaviours were conducted over two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) at randomly-selected squash venues in Melbourne, Australia. Over the two years, 1219 adult players were surveyed (response rate of 92%). Trained observers also recorded the actual oncourt appropriate protective eyewear behaviours of all players during the survey sessions. Eyewear use rates calculated from both data sources were compared. The self-reported appropriate protective eyewear use rate (9.4%; 95% CI 7.8, 11.0) was significantly higher (1.6 times more) than the observed rate (5.9%; 95%CI 4.6, 7.2). This suggests that players may over-report their use of appropriate protective equipment, though some may have incorrectly classified their eyewear as being appropriate or suitably protective. Studies that rely only on self-report data on protective equipment use need to take into account that this could lead to biased estimates.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003001110

Epidemiology of scalds in vulnerable groups in New South Wales, Australia, 1998/1999 to 2002/2003

- Boufous, Soufiane, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Boufous, Soufiane , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Burn Care & Research Vol. 26, no. 4 (2005), p. 320-326
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: In this study, the recently introduced International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, code for hot tap water scalds was used to examine the epidemiology of these cases and other scalds injuries in children younger than 5 years of age and adults aged 65 years and older. Although the trunk was the most common area in which scalds occurred, young children were more likely to sustain head and neck scalds (15%, 95% confidence interval 10.8-18.3) because of hot tap water than older people (2%, 95% confidence interval 0.2-4.4). Hospital separation rates for hot water scalds decreased significantly during the study period in both boys ([chi]2 = 15.6, df = 1, P < .001) and girls ([chi]2 = 5.6, df = 1, P < .001) who were younger than 5 years of age, which might be attributable to the introduction of new standards regulating the provision of hot tap water to various buildings. The severity of scalds cases did not seem to be correlated with the length of hospital stay, which remained unchanged in both age groups.
  • Description: 2003005000

Parental perceptions of sports injury risk

- Otago, Leonie, Garnham, Jennie, Reynolds, Michael, Spittle, Michael, Payne, Warren, Finch, Caroline, Maher, Shelley

  • Authors: Otago, Leonie , Garnham, Jennie , Reynolds, Michael , Spittle, Michael , Payne, Warren , Finch, Caroline , Maher, Shelley
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Paper presented at 2005 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Fifth National Physical Activity Conference, Fourth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference : Promoting Innovation, measuring success, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria : 13th-16th October 2005
  • Full Text: false
  • Description: Health benefits of children’s participation in physical activity such as reduced risk of obesity and diabetes are promoted to parents. However parents’ perceptions of injury risk in sports and how this perception may affect their choice of sport for their child is unknown. The study surveyed 5385 parents of children from 5 – 17 years in 46 sports. A total of 887 surveys were returned. The Health Belief model was the theoretical framework for the study and the sports were divided into four groups – contact, incidental collision, limited contact and non-contact. Mothers completed the forms in 63% of cases and 52.2% of the children were males. The child selected the sport in 51.6% of` cases and generally parents did not believe that their involvement in their child’s sport choice would ensure their child was safer from injury. In the main parents did not believe the sport their child participated in was less likely to cause injury than other sports and this trend increased as the level of contact increased. Trained coaches were seen as very important in reducing injury risk in sport. Generally modified sport was not seen to positively impact on the parent’s choice of sport and parents did not think that cost of protective equipment was a barrier to providing for their child. Parents generally felt that they could assess the risk of injury in a sport but were not influenced by the risk of injury when allowing their child to play a particular sport.
  • Description: 2003001109

The effectiveness of a squash eyewear promotion strategy

- Eime, Rochelle, Finch, Caroline, Wolfe, R., Owen, Neville, McCarty, Catherine

  • Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Finch, Caroline , Wolfe, R. , Owen, Neville , McCarty, Catherine
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Britsh Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 39, no. (2005), p. 681-684
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Objective: To evaluate the protective eyewear promotion (PEP) project, which was a comprehensive educational strategy to increase the use of appropriate protective eyewear by squash players. Methods: An ecological study design was used. Four squash venues in one playing association were randomly chosen to receive PEP and four in another association maintained usual practice and hence formed a control group. The primary evaluation measurements were surveys of cross sectional samples of players carried out before and after the intervention. The surveys investigated players’ knowledge, behaviours, and attitudes associated with the use of protective eyewear. The survey carried out after the intervention also determined players’ exposure to PEP. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken to describe differences at PEP venues from pre- to post-intervention and to compare these with the control venues. Results: The PEP players had 2.4 times the odds (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 4.2) of wearing appropriate eyewear compared with control group players post-intervention, relative to the groups’ preintervention baselines. Components of PEP, such as stickers and posters and the availability and prominent positioning of the project eyewear, were found to contribute to players adopting favourable eyewear behaviours. Conclusions: Components of the PEP intervention were shown to be effective. The true success will be the sustainability and dissemination of the project, favourable eyewear behaviours, and evidence of the prevention of eye injuries long into the future.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003005015

The Trauma Registry as a statewide quality improvement tool

- Cameron, Peter, Gabbe, Belinda, McNeil, John, Finch, Caroline, Smith, Karen, Cooper, James, Judson, Rodney, Kossmann, Thomas

  • Authors: Cameron, Peter , Gabbe, Belinda , McNeil, John , Finch, Caroline , Smith, Karen , Cooper, James , Judson, Rodney , Kossmann, Thomas
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: The Journal of Trauma Vol. 59, no. 6 (2005), p. 1469-1476
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Background: Trauma registries have been developed to describe the pattern of trauma and trauma workload, provide data for research, and to demonstrate changes in patient outcomes. Quality improvement using trauma registries at a systemwide level has been difficult to achieve. In Victoria, Australia, a statewide trauma system and trauma registry has been established to monitor and feedback the process of management and outcomes of major trauma patients across all healthcare providers. Methods: The development and implementation of the Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR), including its role as a quality monitoring tool and results from the first 2 years of operation, are provided. Results: More than 80% of major trauma patients are being managed at major trauma services and standardized death rates are comparable with international standards. Quality indicators identify some areas for improvement. Conclusion: VSTR data indicate that the statewide trauma system is working well and provides a method for ongoing monitoring and trauma care feedback. (C) 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Unprotected eyes in squash : Not seeing the risk of injury

- Eime, Rochelle, McCarty, Catherine, Finch, Caroline, Owen, Neville

  • Authors: Eime, Rochelle , McCarty, Catherine , Finch, Caroline , Owen, Neville
  • Date: 2005
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 8, no. 1 (2005), p. 92-100
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The use of appropriate eyewear in squash can protect the eyes against injury. However, few adult squash players adequately protect their eyes against potential severe injuries. We describe the characteristics of non-users of protective eyewear and examine predictors of appropriate eyewear use. Self-report surveys of adult players were conducted in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Information on players' knowledge, behaviours and attitudes associated with protective eyewear use was collected, in addition to player demographic data. Appropriate eyewear was defined as Standards-approved polycarbonate lens eyewear. The majority 92.2% of players did not adequately protect their eyes while playing squash. Significant predictors of reported eyewear use were: previous eye injury; playing squash on average more than 2 hr per wk; having played for more than 20 y; and having more favourable attitudes towards eye safety in squash. The significant predictors of appropriate eyewear use were: being female; previous eye injury; playing squash on average more than 2 hr per week; and having more favourable attitudes towards eye safety in squash. Understanding the characteristics of both users and non-users of appropriate eye protection in squash is essential for informing future prevention strategies.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003001112

Developing Australia's first statewide trauma registry : What are the lessons?

- Cameron, Peter, Finch, Caroline, Gabbe, Belinda, Collins, Lisa, Smith, Karen, McNeil, John

  • Authors: Cameron, Peter , Finch, Caroline , Gabbe, Belinda , Collins, Lisa , Smith, Karen , McNeil, John
  • Date: 2004
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: ANZ Journal of Surgery Vol. 74, no. 6 (2004), p. 424-428
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Trauma registries, like disease registries, provide an important analysis tool to assess the management of patient care. Trauma registries are well established and relatively common in the USA and have been used to change legislation, promote trauma prevention and to evaluate trauma system effectiveness. In Australia, the first truly statewide trauma registry was established in Victoria in 2001 with an estimated capture of 1700 major trauma cases annually. The Victorian State Trauma Registry, managed by the Victorian State Trauma Outcomes Registry and Monitoring (VSTORM) group, was established in response to a ministerial review of trauma and emergency services undertaken in 1997 to advise the Victorian Government on a best practice model of trauma service provision that was responsive to the particular needs of critically ill trauma patients. This taskforce recommended the establishment of a new system of care for major trauma patients in Victoria and a statewide trauma registry to monitor this new system. The development of the Victorian state trauma registry has shown that there are certain issues that must be resolved for successful implementation of any system-wide registry. This paper describes the issues faced by VSTORM in developing, implementing and maintaining a statewide trauma registry.
  • Description: 2003005108

Knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of squash venue operators relating to use of protective eyewear

- Eime, Rochelle, Finch, Caroline, Owen, Neville, Gifford, Sandra, Vear, Paul

  • Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Finch, Caroline , Owen, Neville , Gifford, Sandra , Vear, Paul
  • Date: 2004
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion Vol. 11, no. 1 (2004), p. 47-53
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Sports venues are in a position to potentially influence the safety practices of their patrons. This study examined the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of venue operators that could influence the use of protective eyewear by squash players. A 50% random sample of all private and public squash venues affiliated with the Victorian Squash Federation in metropolitan Melbourne was selected. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 squash venue operators during August 2001. Interviews were transcribed and content and thematic analyses were performed. The content of the interviews covered five topics: (1) overall injury risk perception, (2) eye injury occurrence, (3) knowledge, behaviors, attitudes and beliefs associated with protective eyewear, (4) compulsory protective eyewear and (5) availability of protective eyewear at venues. Venue operators were mainly concerned with the severe nature of eye injuries, rather than the relatively low incidence of these injuries. Some venue operators believed that players should wear any eyewear, rather than none at all, and believed that more players should use protective eyewear. Generally, they did not believe that players with higher levels of experience and expertise needed to wear protective eyewear when playing. Only six venues had at least one type of eyewear available for players to hire or borrow or to purchase. Operators expressed a desire to be informed about correct protective eyewear. Appropriate protective eyewear is not readily available at squash venues. Better-informed venue operators may be more likely to provide suitable protective eyewear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Injury Control & Safety Promotion is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
  • Description: 2003001113

Protective eyewear promotion : Applying principles of behaviour change in the design of a squash injury prevention programme

- Eime, Rochelle, Owen, Neville, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Owen, Neville , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2004
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 34, no. 10 (2004), p. 629-638
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Eye injuries in squash have the potential to be severe. Although these injuries can be prevented through the use of protective eyewear, few players wear such eyewear. The aim of this paper is to outline the behavioural principles guiding the design of a squash eyewear promotion initiative, the Protective Eyewear Promotion (PEP). Ecological principles of behaviour change were used to provide a comprehensive perspective on intrapersonal factors, policies and physical environmental influences of protective eyewear use. Results of baseline player surveys and venue manager interviews were used to provide relevant and specific intervention content. At baseline, protective eyewear was not found to be readily available, and players' behaviours, knowledge and attitudes did not favour its use. The main components of PEP involved informing and educating both players and squash venue operators of the risk of eye injury and of appropriate protective eyewear, as well as assisting with the availability of the eyewear and offering incentives for players to use it. A structural strength of PEP was the strong collaborative links with the researchers of different disciplines, the squash governing body, eyewear manufacturers, squash venue personnel, as well as players. Attempts were made within the project structure to make provision for the future dissemination and sustainability of more widespread eye injury prevention measures in the sport of squash. Copyright 2004 Adis Data Information BV
  • Description: 2003001111

Is the revised trauma score still useful?

- Gabbe, Belinda, Cameron, Peter, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Gabbe, Belinda , Cameron, Peter , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2003
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: ANZ Journal of Surgery Vol. 73, no. 11 (2003), p. 944-948
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The revised trauma score (RTS) has been embraced by the trauma community worldwide. Although originally developed as a triage tool, the use of the RTS has since been expanded to include the prediction of outcome following traumatic injury. Through a critical review of the literature, evidence for use of the RTS is discussed along with the limitations of this commonly used tool. In summary, the RTS is a well-established predictor of mortality in trauma populations, but there is a lack of definitive evidence supporting its use as a primary triage tool and as a predictor of outcomes other than mortality. Difficulty in collecting the components of the RTS creates issues for data validity and the use of the RTS as a research tool. Although the weighted RTS has been developed to improve the prediction capacity of the RTS, studies reporting its use are few and there is debate regarding the applicability of the published coefficients for broad use. Overall, further studies are warranted to clearly establish the usefulness of the RTS as a triage tool in the field, to further evaluate the weighted version of the RTS, and to determine the ability of the RTS to predict functional outcome and quality of life. In particular, future research is needed to address these issues in Australian trauma populations.
  • Description: 2003005273

Ground hardness and injury in community level Australian football

- Twomey, Dara, Finch, Caroline, Lloyd, David, Elliott, Bruce, Doyle, Tim

  • Authors: Twomey, Dara , Finch, Caroline , Lloyd, David , Elliott, Bruce , Doyle, Tim
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol.15, no. (4), p.305-310
  • Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Objective: To describe the risk and details of injuries associated with ground hardness in community level Australian football (AF). Design: Prospective injury surveillance with periodic objective ground hardness measurement. Methods: 112 ground hardness assessments were undertaken using a Clegg hammer at nine locations across 20 grounds, over the 2007 and 2008 AF seasons. Details of 352 injuries sustained by community level players on those grounds were prospectively collected as part of a large randomised controlled trial. The ground location of the injury was matched to the nearest corresponding ground hardness Clegg hammer readings, in gravities (g), which were classified from unacceptably low (<30 g) to unacceptably high hardness (>120 g). Results: Clegg hammer readings ranged from 25 to 301 g. Clegg hammer hardness categories from low/normal to high/normal were associated with the majority of injuries, with only 3.7% (13 injuries) on unacceptably high hardness and 0.3% (1 injury) on the unacceptably low hardness locations. Relative to the preferred range of hardness, the risk of sustaining an injury on low/normal hardness locations was 1.31 (95%CI: 1.06-1.62) times higher and 1.82 (95%CI: 1.17-2.85) times higher on locations with unacceptably high hardness. The more severe injuries occurred with low/normal ground hardness. Conclusions: Despite the low number of injuries, the risk of sustaining an injury on low/normal and unacceptably hard grounds was significantly greater than on the preferred range of hardness. Notably, the severity of the injuries sustained on unacceptably hard grounds was lower than for other categories of hardness. © 2012 Sports Medicine Australia.

Research alone is not sufficient to prevent sports injury

- Hanson, Dale, Allegrante, John, Sleet, David, Finch, Caroline