Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M S Baptiste.
Based on a 1974-1975 survey of hospital records in upstate New York, we estimate that 347 tap water burns will require inpatient treatment annually, with children and the elderly at increased risk. The number and severity of burns from tap water makes them an important prevention priority. Reducing the temperature of household hot water supplies could be a practical and effective prevention measure.
A population-based study of all patients hospitalized for burns in a 2-year period was conducted in up-state New York. The objective was to provide data for setting burn injury prevention priorities and for formulating treatment facility plans. The incidence rate of hospitalization for burns was 27 per 100,000 population per year. The mean estimated size of the burn wounds was 9 percent of the body surface, and fewer than 10 percent of the patients had large wounds (more than 20 percent of the body). Burn patients were admitted to hospitals of all capabilities, including 89 percent of 223 hospitals. Substantial numbers of patients with large and deep wounds were treated in hospitals with little burn treatment experience. High-risk groups were the young, blacks, and males. Burn injuries occurring at work were common. Burn injuries resulting in hospitalization occurred less frequently, and the wounds were smaller in size than would have been expected based on reports in the literature.
A number of data sources routinely available to State health departments were analyzed as part of a State health department cancer control planning effort. This planning effort consisted of seven steps; the most challenging one was the establishment of priorities for cancer control interventions. Using data from available sources, however, a framework for prioritizing potential cancer control interventions as well as choosing a geographic area in which to implement selected interventions was developed. Factors considered in this framework for setting intervention priorities included the magnitude of the problem; the existence of scientific consensus regarding the efficacy of intervention techniques; the availability of data needed to plan, implement, and evaluate an intervention; the availability of resources within communities to implement an intervention; and the existence of public demand for the intervention. The development and use of this cancer control planning model and framework for setting cancer control intervention priorities in New York State are described in this paper. In using this planning model and framework for setting priorities, quantitative elements were found to be most necessary to define problems, but qualitative elements were most crucial for decision making.