Background: Acute substance intoxication is associated with traumatic injury and worse hospital outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between simultaneous opioids and benzodiazepines (OB) use and hospital outcomes in elderly trauma patients.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS-TQIP) 2017 database.
Introduction: In Massachusetts, US, medical cannabis legalisation was associated with increased paediatric cannabis exposure cases, including emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. The impact of recreational cannabis legalisation (RCL) on paediatric exposures in Massachusetts has yet to be studied.
Methods: To compare the incidences before and after RCL in Massachusetts, US, we queried the data on paediatric cannabis exposure cases in 2016-2021 from the Centre for Healthcare and Analysis and Injury Surveillance Programme at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Introduction: Firearm safety instructors and public health professionals are natural allies in the quest to prevent firearm injuries. We audited basic firearm classes to provide information that can help familiarise public health professionals and others with the content covered.
Methods: With the advice of expert instructors, we created an audit form.
Background And Objectives: In 2010, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a comprehensive law that restricted off-road vehicle (ORV) use by children <14 years old and regulated ORV use by children up to the age of 18 years. We aimed to examine the impact of the 2010 Massachusetts law on the rates of ORV-related injuries.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of Massachusetts emergency department (ED) and inpatient discharges between 2002 and 2013 as found in the Center for Health Information and Analysis database by using external causes of injury codes specific to ORV-related injuries.
Objective: We recently demonstrated that the 2007 Massachusetts Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) law decreased the rate of motor vehicle crashes in teenage drivers. To better understand this decrease, we sought to examine the law's impact on the issuance of driving licenses and traffic citations to teenage drivers.
Methods: Citation and license data were obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Objective: To determine physician-reported adherence to and support of the 2010 Massachusetts youth concussion law, as well as barriers to care and clinical practice in the context of legislation.
Study Design: Primary care physicians (n = 272) in a large pediatric network were eligible for a cross-sectional survey in 2014. Survey questions addressed key policy and practice provisions: concussion knowledge, state regulations and training, practice patterns, referrals, patient characteristics, and barriers to care.
Background: Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) programs phase in driving privileges for teenagers. In 2007, Massachusetts implemented a stricter version of the 1998 GDL law, with increased fines and education. This study evaluated the impact of the law on motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related health care utilization and charges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF-Injury is the leading cause of mortality in people younger than 44 years of age. Injury prevention laws and policies are not only effective in saving lives at a population level but are also remarkably cost-effective compared to most public health interventions. For example, the implementation of a stricter Massachusetts Graduated Driver Licensing Law in 2007 resulted in a very significant and rapid decrease in the rates of motor vehicle crashes of teenager drivers, saved thousands of lives, and resulted in more than $10 million dollars savings in health care costs over 5 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Graduated driving licensing (GDL) programs phase in driving privileges for teenagers. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the 2007 GDL law on the incidence of total motor vehicle crashes (tMVCs) and fatal motor vehicle crashes (fMVCs) among teenagers in Massachusetts.
Methods: The Fatality Analysis and Reporting System, the Missouri Census Data Center, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation databases were all used to create and compare the incidence of tMVCs and fMVCs before (2002-2006) and after (2007-2011) the law enactment.