Occupational injury and accident research: A comprehensive review

In this paper, a comprehensive review of the concepts of occupational injury and accident causation and prevention is presented. Starting with hazard identification, the issues on risk assessment, accident causation, and intervention strategies are discussed progressively. The distinctiveness and overlaps in accident and injury research are highlighted. Both empirical research in terms of hypotheses tested and theoretical research such as accident causation models are compared and contrasted. Finally, based on the critical appraisal of the comprehensive review, future research directions on occupational injury research are delineated.     

Sport participation and injury rates in high school students: A Canadian survey of 2029 adolescents

Introduction: The objective of this study is to examine sport and recreational (S&R) activity participation and injury rates (IR) in high school students (ages 14–19). Methods: High school students (N = 24 schools, n = 2,029; 958 male, 1,048 female, 23 identified ‘other’ or missing; ages 14–19) in Alberta completed a web-based survey during class (October 2018–March 2019). Students identified their top three sports for participation in the past year. Primary outcome measures included IR for (a) any S&R-related injury, (b) most serious S&R-related injury resulting in medical attention, and (c) most serious injury resulting in restriction from S&R for at least one day. Results: In total, 1763/2029 (86.89%) respondents [861/958 (89.87%) male, 886/1048 (84.54%) female, 16/23 (69.57%) identifying as ‘other’ or missing] participated in an S&R activity in the past year. Top sports for male participation were basketball (33.08%; 95% CI 27.67–39.00), ice hockey (20.46%; 95% CI 14.87–27.47), and soccer (19.42%; 95% CI 15.67–23.80). Top sports for female participation were dance (22.52%; 95% CI 17.98–27.82), basketball (18.32%; 95% CI 14.32–23.14), and badminton (17.84%; 95% CI 13.35–23.43). Of the 1,971 students completing the S&R injury question, 889 reported at least one injury during the past year [(IR = 45.10 injuries/100 students/year (95% CI 39.72–50.61)]. The medical attention IR was 29.09 injuries/100 students/year (95% CI 24.49–34.17) and time loss IR was 36.00 injuries/100 students/year (95% CI 30.47–41.93). Conclusions: High school student S&R IRs are high with 29% of adolescents reporting at least one medical attention injury within the past year. Injury prevention strategies targeting youth are necessary. Practical Application: Participation in S&R activities has multiple physical, psychological, and health benefits for adolescents, but some S&R activities also have greater risks of injury. This study informs the next sports to target for implementation of optimal prospective surveillance and injury prevention strategies among high school aged students.     

A 6-year survey of road traffic accidents in Southwest China: Emphasis on traumatic brain injury

Background: The objective of this study is to provide an up-to-date overview of the patterns of injuries, especially traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by RTAs and to discuss some of the public health consequences. Methods: A scientific team was established to collect road traffic accidents occurring between 2013 and 2018 in Chongqing, Southwest China. For each accident, the environment-, vehicle-, and person- variables were analyzed and determined. The overall injury distribution and TBI patterns of four types of road users (driver, passenger, motorcyclist and pedestrian) were compared. The environmental and time distribution of accidents with TBI were shown by bar and pie chart. The risks of severe brain injury whether motorcyclist wearing helmets or not were compared and the risk factors of severe TBI in pedestrian were determined by odds ratio analysis. Results: This study enrolled 2131 accidents with 2741 persons of all kind of traffic participants, 1149 of them suffered AIS1+ head injury and 1598(58%) died in 7 days. The most common cause of deaths is due to head injury with 714(85%) and 1266(79%) persons died within 2 hours. Among 423 persons suffered both skull fracture and intracranial injury, 102 (24.1%) have an intracranial injury but no skull fractures, while none of the skull fractures without intracranial injury was found. Besides, motorcyclists without a helmet were at higher risks for all the brain injury categories. The risk of pedestrian suffering severe TBI at an impact speed of more than 70 km/h is 100 times higher than that with an impact speed of less than 40 km/h. Conclusion: It is urgently needed to develop a more reliable brain injury evaluation criterion for better protection of the road users. We believe that strengthening the emergency care to head injury at the scene is the most effective way to reduce traffic fatality.