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Biomedical subjects

G A Ryan

Publications and source records attributed to G A Ryan.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

An analysis of the activities of general practitioners.

This study has demonstrated that activity sampling is a practical and sensitive method of analysing the general practitioner's task. The data so gathered can be used in planning and devising innovations in practice management, in planning and evaluating the use of allied health professionals for non- diagnostic tasks, for assisting in the definition of objectives for medical education more clearly, and finally, when the appropriate indices have been developed, for evaluating the quality of care provided.

Australia↗
PubMed1975

The performance of seat belts in severe crashes.

This paper reports an intensive follow-up study of persons injured while wearing seat belts in crashes. Examinations of both vehicles and persons were carried out after the crash, and 30 out of 54 (55.5%) persons were judged to have been wearing seat belts at impact. Eight received injuries from the seat belt, only four of these injuries being severe, and none was fatal. A roadside survey showed that half of the occupants wearing seat belts had them adjusted incorrectly. This compared with nearly 90% of the crash cases having incorrectly adjusted belts. There is therefore an association between incorrectly worn seat belts and injury. The seat belt buckle seems to be a possible cause of injury in this situation, especially when worn in from of the hip, and with a loose belt. Comparison of police reports of belt wearing for the study cases suggests an underestimate of about 10% in the wearing rate if police data are used.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1975

The tole of towing services at motor vehicle crashes.

A survey of tow truck services operating in a defined area of the south-east suburbs of Melbourne was undertaken to determine their potential for delivering emergency medical care at the scene of crashes. Most towing firms have an association with a panel-beating shop, and operate within a limited area of one to three miles radius. The rapid response of tow trucks to crash scenes is due to their well-developed intelligence network of "spotters" and the short distances the trucks travel. Very little first aid is provided by the drivers, although one-fifth had some first aid training at some time. In about one-half of the calls to crashes a damaged vehicle is still at the scene, in about 20% an ambulance is called, and in about 5% a hospital admission occurs. Direct observation of 22 crashes suggests that on average, tow trucks arrive at a crash scene five minutes before the ambulance, and fifteen minutes before the police. There is a good case for making first aid training a preerequisite for issue of a tow truck operator's license.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving head protection for cyclists, motorcyclists, and car occupants.

It appears from this review of the literature that both linear and angular accelerations are important in the production of injury to the brain. These mechanical inputs to the head result in differential movements or strains in the contents of the head. These strains, if large enough, produce the irreversible loss of function or physical disruptions of neural or other tissue, observed following head impacts. Owing to the difficulties in measuring these strains, criteria for injury levels are written in terms of external movements of the head, and for the more easily measurable linear acceleration rather than angular acceleration. Helmets for motorcyclists provide adequate protection for impacts up to about 8 m/s. Their performance could be improved for front and side impacts to the head, and by matching liner and skull characteristics. Bicycle helmets have both hard and soft shell models with similar impact attenuation properties. The compulsory wearing of these helmets in Victoria appears to have reduced the number of head injuries sustained. For car occupants, only in the U.S.A. is there a measure of the degree of head protection, in that the Head Injury Criterion is used for 50 km/h frontal impacts. Car occupants appear to be susceptible to severe head injury in side impacts. Considerable improvements could be made by providing impact attenuation in the head contact areas on the door, roof and B-pillar. The seat belt provides protection in frontal impacts, which could be improved further with the addition of an air bag, or by wearing a helmet.

Accidents, Traffic↗