Injury prevention program in primary care: process evaluation and surveillance.
OBJECTIVE
To carry out process evaluation and surveillance in a community oriented primary care program for injury prevention among children 0-2 years old (n = 306).


METHODS
Mother and child health clinic in a defined area of Western Jerusalem.


METHODS
An injury prevention program was integrated into the routines of the mother and child health clinic. The program consisted of injury surveillance and counselling using a developmental approach, regarding car safety and the prevention of falls, burns, suffocation, poisonings, cuts, drowning, and electrocution. Process evaluation and surveillance were based on records integrated into the child's personal file in the clinic.


RESULTS
Process evaluation indicated that counselling coverage was 73% in the 0-5 month age group and decreased to 48% in the second year of life. The mean number of topics discussed with the parents was 6.6 (out of nine) for the 0-5 months age group, 13.6 (out of 18) for the 6-11 month group, and 15.7 (out of 18) for those 1-2 years old. Injury surveillance activities were complete for 66% of the children, incomplete in 32%, and not done in 2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that it is feasible to integrate an injury prevention program into primary care, and that process evaluation is important in detecting problems and improving performance of the program's activities.
Gofin
R
R
Department of Social Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
De Leon
D
D
Knishkowy
B
B
Palti
H
H
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*