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Biomedical subjects

G B Rodgers

Publications and source records attributed to G B Rodgers.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Effects of state helmet laws on bicycle helmet use by children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of state helmet laws in increasing the use of bicycle helmets by children and adolescents under age 16. SETTING: United States. METHODS: A cross sectional study of factors associated with the likelihood of helmet use by children and adolescents. Data were derived from a national random digit dial telephone survey of bicycle riders. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the independent effect of the state helmet laws on helmet use. RESULTS: Helmet use was systematically related to the presence of state helmet laws (odds ratio 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29 to 5.44). The increase in the average probability of helmet use attributable to state helmet laws was 18.4% (95% CI 17.8% to 19.0%). CONCLUSIONS: State helmet laws significantly increase helmet use by children and play an important part in any comprehensive effort designed to achieve this goal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for all-terrain vehicle injuries: a national case-control study.

A case-control study design was used to determine and quantify all-terrain vehicle (ATV) risk factors. The analysis was based on the results of two national probability surveys conducted in 1997: a survey of injured ATV drivers treated in hospital emergency departments and a survey of the general population of ATV users. Cases were drawn from the injury survey; controls (ATV drivers who had not been injured) were drawn from the user survey. Risk factors were quantified by means of a binary logistic regression analysis. After adjustment for covariates, injury risks were systematically related to a number of driver characteristics (age, gender, driving experience), driver use patterns (monthly driving times, recreational vs. nonrecreational use), and vehicle characteristics (number of wheels, engine size). The results of the analysis suggest that future safety efforts should focus on reducing child injuries, getting new drivers to participate in hands-on training programs, and encouraging consumers to dispose of the three-wheel ATVs still in use.

Accidents↗
PubMed1999

The characteristics and use patterns of all-terrain vehicle drivers in the United States.

The consent decrees between the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the major distributors of all-terrain vehicles (ATV), which were designed to address ATV-related injuries and deaths, expired in April, 1998. While national estimates of nonfatal and fatal injuries involving ATVs declined after the consent decrees went into effect 10 years ago, the injury estimates have stabilized in recent years. To gain a better understanding of current ATV use patterns, the CPSC sponsored a national probability survey of ATV drivers in the fall of 1997. The survey was designed to collect information about the characteristics and use patterns of ATV drivers and to quantify the numbers and types of ATVs in use. It employed a single stage list-assisted random-digit-dial sample design. This article describes the results of the survey, and discusses long term ATV usage trends.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

The safety effects of child-resistant packaging for oral prescription drugs. Two decades of experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of child-resistant packaging in reducing the mortality rate for children younger than 5 years from the unintentional ingestion of oral prescription drugs. DESIGN: Annual mortality rates for children younger than 5 years associated with the unintentional ingestion of oral prescription drugs are constructed for 1964 through 1992. The effect of child-resistant packaging on the child mortality rate during the postintervention period (1974 through 1992) is evaluated with a multivariate time series regression model. The analysis controls for changes in the consumption of oral prescription drugs over time and for long-term safety trends. SETTING: United States. SUBJECTS: Children younger than 5 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Estimated reductions in the child mortality rate associated with the use of child-resistant packaging. RESULTS: After controlling for covariates, the use of child-resistant packaging was associated with an annual reduction in the oral prescription drug-related mortality rate of 1.40 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.95) deaths per million children younger than 5 years. This suggests a reduction of about 460 child deaths from 1974, the year oral prescription drugs became subject to child-resistant packaging requirements, through 1992-a mortality rate reduction of about 45% from levels projected without the child-resistant requirements. CONCLUSION: Child-resistant packaging reduces child mortality from the unintentional ingestion of oral prescription drugs.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Bicycle helmet use patterns among children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the helmet use patterns of children younger than 15 years of age in the United States. METHODS: A national telephone survey of bicycle riders was conducted by means of the Mitofsky-Waksberg method of random-digit dialing, a survey method intended to give all telephone numbers in the continental United States an equal probability of selection. Based on information collected in the survey, a logistic regression model was used to determine and quantify the factors associated with helmet use. RESULTS: Information was collected on the bicycle and helmet use patterns of a national sample of 399 children younger than 15 years of age who rode bicycles during the year preceding the survey. This sample projects to the approximately 26.4 million children who are estimated to have ridden bicycles in 1991. About 26% of all child riders owned or had the use of bicycle helmets, and about 15% were reported to have used their helmets all or more than half of the time when riding. Information is provided on the reasons the children did or did not wear helmets. The logistic regression analysis shows that helmet use by children is systematically related to their personal characteristics (e.g., age and whether they had previously had bicycle-related accidents requiring medical attention), riding patterns (e.g., riding surface), and household demographic characteristics (e.g., geographic location and whether household members had attended college). CONCLUSIONS: Helmet use rates among children remain low. Less than one fifth of the children who rode bicycles wore helmets all or more than half of the time in 1991. However, based on comparisons with earlier studies, the results of the analysis suggest that helmet use rates have been rising.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Bicycle helmet use patterns in the United States. A description and analysis of national survey data.

While there have been considerable efforts to promote bicycle helmet use in the United States in recent years, little information has been available on actual helmet usage patterns. Based on the results of a recent national survey, this article provides information on current helmet usage patterns, the types of helmets in use, and the reasons why bicycle riders use or do not use helmets. It also presents a statistical analysis of the factors associated with helmet use. These factors are determined and quantified with a probit regression model, a type of qualitative response model that can be used to estimate the expected probabilities of helmet use for individual bicyclists and for various population subgroups. The regression analysis shows that helmet use is systematically related to riding patterns, rider characteristics, and household demographics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Bicyclist deaths and fatality risk patterns.

While there are almost 1,000 bicyclist deaths in the United States every year, there has been little formal analysis of the fatal risk patterns of bicyclists. In large part, this is because there has been little information available on riding exposure. The purpose of this article is to determine and quantify the relative risks of death for bicyclists according to age, gender, and daylight conditions. Relative risks are estimated by comparing data on the characteristics of fatally injured bicyclists with estimates of riding exposure from a recent national survey of bicyclists in the United States. The results suggest substantially higher fatality risks for males, for bicyclists over the age of 44, and for bicyclists who ride after dark. Discussion of the results includes implications regarding differences in the fatal and nonfatal injury risks associated with bicycle use.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

All-terrain vehicle injury risks and the effects of regulation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission initiated a formal regulatory proceeding in 1985 to evaluate the hazards associated with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and to consider a range of regulatory alternatives. In December 1987, the government and ATV industry filed preliminary consent decrees in U.S. District Court that contained provisions intended to satisfy the Commission's concerns about ATVs. Final consent decrees were approved by the Court in April 1988. This study examines the effectiveness of the consent decrees and concomitant publicity in reducing ATV-related injuries by evaluating changes in driver and market behavior following the consent decrees. Changes in driver behavior are evaluated by comparing the results of risk analyses conducted in the pre- and postconsent decree time periods; the risk analyses are based on logit probability models estimated from cross-section survey data. Changes in market behavior are evaluated by analyzing the impact of the consent decrees on ATV sales patterns. The results suggest that CPSC actions have had a positive impact in reducing ATV injuries.

Accidents↗
PubMed1990

The effectiveness of helmets in reducing all-terrain vehicle injuries and deaths.

This article examines the effectiveness of helmets in reducing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) related deaths and head injuries, conditional on the occurrence of injury producing accidents. A logit regression model is used to analyze cross-section data on ATV-related fatal and nonfatal injuries, and to determine the factors that are associated with deaths and head injuries. The results suggest that, given an accident resulting in injury or death, helmet use reduces the risk of death by about 42%, and could reduce the likelihood that a given nonfatal injury involves the head by about 64%. Other factors that are associated with the risk of fatality for injury accidents include the use of alcohol or drugs, driving on paved roads, the driver's age and sex, and the vehicle's engine size. A benefit-cost analysis of helmet use is conducted and policy implications are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Factors contributing to child drownings and near-drownings in residential swimming pools.

This article examines and quantifies factors affecting the risk of child drowning and near-drowning accidents in residential swimming pools. Two surveys were conducted. One survey provided information on children and pools involved in accidents; the other provided information on children exposed to the risk of drowning and their swimming environment. A logit regression model was used to analyze the survey results. The accident determinants were estimated, and risk factors calculated. The results are analyzed within the context of the child drowning and child development literature. Possible intervention strategies are discussed.

Child↗