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Journal of Agromedicine Apr 2024
Topics: Child; Humans; Farms; Accidents, Occupational; Wounds and Injuries; Agriculture
PubMed: 38323629
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2024.2311050 -
Disaster Medicine and Public Health... Aug 2023
Topics: Humans; Radiation Injuries; Radiation Exposure; Accidents; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Japan
PubMed: 37565346
DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.113 -
Ulusal Travma Ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi =... Feb 2024The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a unique set of circumstances, straining health-care systems and affecting the way of life in societies...
BACKGROUND
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a unique set of circumstances, straining health-care systems and affecting the way of life in societies around the world. Measures such as social isolation, travel restrictions, and workplace closures have led to an increase in motorcycle use. Consequently, motorcycle accidents have become a significant problem during this period. This study presents detailed research conducted to examine motorcycle accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand the causes and consequences of the increase in these accidents.
METHODS
This research evaluated records from a single health examination and used various models to analyze motorcycle acci-dents within a specified time period. Additionally, retrospective analyses were conducted to examine associations between motorcycle use and crashes in our country before and after the pandemic. The records of 386 patients who were injured in motorcycle accidents and followed up, received treatment, and were recorded at Biruni University Hospital between November 2015 and April 2023 were retrospectively examined. Noted details included the victims' age, gender, injury mechanism, injury site, injury severity, helmet use, presence and location of fractures, time distribution of the accident, and the severity of other important tissue injuries. The relationship between the injury site, fractures, and accident details, and the "Injury Severity Score" (ISS) was also investigated.
RESULTS
Among the 386 injured victims in motorcycle accidents, 333 were male and 53 were female. Of these, 168 (43.5%) were motorcycle drivers, 137 (35.5%) were motorcycle couriers, and 81 (21%) were pedestrians. A total of 186 (48%) injuries occurred before the pandemic (November 2015-March 2020), while 200 (52%) were sustained during the pandemic. The study indicates a noticeable increase in motorcycle injuries, particularly among motor couriers, especially during the pandemic quarantine periods. Post hoc analysis revealed that motor couriers had significantly lower ISS compared to other professions (p=0.009 and p=0.045, respectively). Motorcyclists who wore helmets were found to have significantly lower ISS than those who did not wear helmets (p<0.05). Furthermore, it was found that the ISS was positively correlated with the number of bone fractures, total soft tissue injury, and significant clinical characteristics (r=0.758, r=0.756, and p<0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSION
This clinical study's findings demonstrate that the measures implemented during the pandemic to limit society's mobility have led to an increase in motorcycle accidents. Notably, there has been a significant rise in the number of accidents, particularly involving individual motorcycle use and motorcycle courier services.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Pandemics; Motorcycles; Turkey; Accidents, Traffic; COVID-19; Fractures, Bone; Head Protective Devices
PubMed: 38305652
DOI: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.08791 -
International Journal of Legal Medicine Jul 2024Children involved in car crashes can experience either direct trauma or inertial injuries resulting from interactions with external objects, such as other vehicles, or...
Children involved in car crashes can experience either direct trauma or inertial injuries resulting from interactions with external objects, such as other vehicles, or with the restraint system. Furthermore, improper use of restraint systems can lead to additional severe injuries. Recent reports from international institutions underscored the persistent prevalence of inadequate restraint systems utilization and this widespread issue increases children's vulnerability and risk of injuries.The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the literature on injuries sustained in children involved in road accidents describing and analyzing elements useful for forensic assessment.The literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from January 1970 to March 2023. Eligible studies have investigated issues of interest to forensic medicine about traffic accidents involving pediatric passengers. A total of 69 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were categorized and analyzed according to the anatomical regions of the body affected (head, neck, thoraco-abdominal, and limb injuries), and the assessment of lesions in reconstruction of the accident was examined and discussed.The review highlights that in motor vehicle accidents involving children, the forensic evaluation of both the cause of death and accident dynamics needs to consider several factors, such as the child's age, the type of restraint system employed, and the specific passenger seat occupied. Considering the complexity of the factors that can be involved in this road accident, it is crucial that there is a comprehensive exchange of information between the judge and the medical expert.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Accidents, Traffic; Child Restraint Systems; Forensic Medicine; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 38337078
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03174-7 -
F1000Research 2023: Traffic accidents are an important issue for public health and a threat for sustainable development, with pedestrians and cyclists having been recognized as the most... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
: Traffic accidents are an important issue for public health and a threat for sustainable development, with pedestrians and cyclists having been recognized as the most vulnerable actors on the streets. The objective of this study was to analyze the profiles of pedestrians and cyclists who died as a result of traffic accidents in Colombia during the 1998-2019 period. An observational and descriptive study, with the deaths due to traffic accidents in Colombia between 1998 and 2019 as data source. Secondary data were taken from the Vital statistics of Colombia (EEVV), published by Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE). A trend analysis of the number of deaths during the period under study was performed, and such number was examined against sex to identify potential differences. Multiple correspondence analysis was employed to elaborate the profile of pedestrians and cyclists who die due to traffic accidents. Three profiles were prepared for each road actor: a global profile, one for 1998, and another for 2019. The mortality profiles are different for pedestrians and cyclists, and, in turn, there are also demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic conditions in each type of road actor, which determine higher mortality risks. High population density, younger age group in the cyclists and adults among the pedestrians, low schooling levels and absence of health insurance are suggested as key factors in these profiles. Related to sex, for men is not possible to establish a profile. Women's cases are commonly related to health insurance, age, and population density. Several contextual and demographic characteristics in pedestrians and cyclists allow delimiting mortality profiles. The profiles that were identified suggest the need to articulate road safety policies with other social and development policies in order to coordinate and integrate intersectoral actions that reduce mortality in these road actors.
Topics: Adult; Male; Humans; Female; Accidents, Traffic; Pedestrians; Colombia; Bicycling
PubMed: 37576539
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.131431.2 -
European Journal of Trauma and... Apr 2024In modern societies, motorcycle accidents have become a great problem for health systems worldwide. In Spain, the size and the power of the engine of 2-wheel vehicles... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
PURPOSE
In modern societies, motorcycle accidents have become a great problem for health systems worldwide. In Spain, the size and the power of the engine of 2-wheel vehicles determine the type of driving license and the age at which these vehicles can be used (mopeds and motorcycles, which at the same time can have a small or large engine capacity). The objective of the present study was to analyze and characterize low- and high-power motorcycle accidents in Spain, between 2014 and 2020, both included and compared these categories with each other.
METHODS
Retrospective, descriptive, and observational study of motorcycle and moped accidents in Spain between 2014 and 2020, both included.
RESULTS
The mortality of motorcycle accident riders in Spain is associated with males aged between 30 and 40 years old, with a high-power motorcycle, and an A or A1 driver's license, who is 6.7 times more likely to die in crossings and highways than a moped, while wearing a helmet, and if not, this increases to 4.89 times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in death at 24 h after a high-power motorcycle accident was observed, as compared with a large reduction in the total medical assistance provided in 2019-2020.
CONCLUSIONS
High-power motorcycles had higher scores in mortality and morbity rates than low-power ones, with a significant increase in mortality during the pandemic, even though number of accidents and medical assistance provided were drastically reduced.
Topics: Humans; Motorcycles; Spain; Accidents, Traffic; Male; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Female; COVID-19; Head Protective Devices; Middle Aged; Young Adult; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 37698643
DOI: 10.1007/s00068-023-02363-0 -
Accident; Analysis and Prevention Jun 2024Traffic accidents have emerged as one of the most public health safety matters, raising concerns from both the public and urban administrators. The ability to accurately...
Traffic accidents have emerged as one of the most public health safety matters, raising concerns from both the public and urban administrators. The ability to accurately predict traffic accident not only supports the governmental decision-making in advance but also enhances public confidence in safety measures. However, the efficacy of traditional spatio-temporal prediction models are compromised by the skewed distributions and sparse labeling of accident data. To this end, we propose a Sparse Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Hypergraph Learning (SST-DHL) framework that captures higher-order dependencies in sparse traffic accidents by combining hypergraph learning and self-supervised learning. The SST-DHL model incorporates a multi-view spatiotemporal convolution block to capture local correlations and semantics of traffic accidents, a cross-regional dynamic hypergraph learning model to identify global spatiotemporal dependencies, and a two-supervised self-learning paradigm to capture both local and global spatiotemporal patterns. Through experimentation on New York City and London accident datasets, we demonstrate that our proposed SST-DHL exhibits significant improvements compared to optimal baseline models at different sparsity levels. Additionally, it offers enhanced interpretability of results by elucidating complex spatio-temporal dependencies among various traffic accident instances. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the SST-DHL framework in accurately predicting traffic accidents, thereby enhancing public safety and trust.
Topics: Humans; Accidents, Traffic; New York City; London; Research Design
PubMed: 38569351
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2024.107564 -
Journal of Safety Research Dec 2023Increasing the role of cycling is necessary to reduce physical inactivity. While promoting cycling, attention should also be given to traffic safety. Hence, a better...
PROBLEM
Increasing the role of cycling is necessary to reduce physical inactivity. While promoting cycling, attention should also be given to traffic safety. Hence, a better understanding on the underlying factors and safety recommendations of cyclist crashes is needed. This study aims to increase knowledge on fatal single-bicycle crashes (SBCs), where other road users are not collided with.
METHOD
Data from in-depth investigated fatal cyclist crashes in Finland is analyzed from 2010 to 2019. The study presents descriptive analysis of the characteristics, underlying factors, and safety recommendations of SBCs (n = 82) and other cyclist crashes (n = 151). Logistic regression analysis and chi-squared tests were performed to identify significant characteristics for SBCs.
RESULTS
Fatal SBCs commonly involved people aged 60 or older, males, and cyclist not wearing a helmet. Cyclist's health issues influenced the crash in 62.2% of the SBCs. Compared to other cyclist crashes, health issues, alcohol, males, other crash locations than intersections, and weekends were highlighted in SBCs. Safety recommendations emphasized human factors, such as informing cyclist about underlying factors and the use of safety equipment.
DISCUSSION
In addition to human factors, the safety recommendations included suggestions regarding the bicycle, the traffic environment, and traffic regulations. This highlights the need to focus on different safety improvement actions to reduce SBCs. This study identified key characteristics of SBCs, which may help traffic safety authorities address this road safety issue and ultimately help to promote cyclist safety.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Cooperation between the actors including health care providers and the police is also proposed to address cyclists' health issues that contribute to SBCs.
Topics: Male; Humans; Accidents, Traffic; Bicycling; Finland; Head Protective Devices; Police
PubMed: 38081727
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.09.008 -
Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) Aug 2023The comparison of different age groups both with respect to the number of traffic accident victims and in relation to the risk of causing an accident is the prerequisite... (Review)
Review
The comparison of different age groups both with respect to the number of traffic accident victims and in relation to the risk of causing an accident is the prerequisite for a differentiated assessment of persons likely to be a threat and the risk. For this purpose, selected accident statistics were analyzed and evaluated in the context of general population developments. It turns out that the accident risk for older drivers over 75 years of age is not exceptionally high; however, the risk of dying in a road traffic accident is more pronounced for the group of over 75-year-olds. The result varies depending on the means of transport. The findings are intended to stimulate further discussion and give indications for areas of action to increase road safety, especially for older road users.
Topics: Humans; Accidents, Traffic; Aged
PubMed: 37191894
DOI: 10.1007/s00113-023-01323-y -
BMC Geriatrics Oct 2023Our aim was to evaluate Spanish family doctors' knowledge about medications that increase the risk of traffic accidents involving older drivers, and to obtain data about...
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to evaluate Spanish family doctors' knowledge about medications that increase the risk of traffic accidents involving older drivers, and to obtain data about the involvement of family doctors in accident prevention activities and the associations between these factors and their demographic and workplace characteristics.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 1888 family doctors throughout Spain was carried out from 2016 to 2018. Participants completed a previously validated self-administered questionnaire that explored whether family doctors distinguished between medications associated with a high or low risk of involvement in a traffic accident, investigated the appropriateness of advice given to older patients, and physicians' involvement in preventive activities. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the adjusted association of these variables with each other and with characteristics of family doctors in the sample.
RESULTS
On a scale of 1 (never or hardly ever) to 4 (always), the indexes constructed to evaluate how often family doctors believed they should oversee the use of high-risk and low-risk medications yielded values of 3.38 for the former and 2.61 for the latter (p < 0.001). Only 24% responded correctly to all three items that inquired about the appropriateness of the advice they gave to older patients. On a scale of 1 to 4, the frequency at which family doctors gave older patients advice about preventive measures was 2.85, and only 43% reported allocating time during appointments to provide this advice. These latter two variables were directly associated with appropriate values for the index used to evaluate physicians' oversight of medications associated with a high risk. The perception of risk associated with medications and involvement in preventive activities were both greater among female participants.
CONCLUSIONS
Family doctors correctly identified medications according to their risk of playing a role in traffic accidents, although the recommendations they gave to their patients were not always appropriate. These findings, along with physicians' infrequent involvement in preventive activities, suggest a need to improve family doctors' competencies and increase the resources available to them so that they can provide their older patients with advice on ways to prevent involvement in traffic accidents.
Topics: Humans; Female; Accidents, Traffic; Cross-Sectional Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Physicians; Primary Health Care; Automobile Driving
PubMed: 37848841
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04316-z