An evaluation of Think First Saskatchewan: a head and spinal cord injury prevention program.
OBJECTIVE
To identify youth behaviour with regards to injury prevention, to assess the awareness of severity and susceptibility to brain and spinal cord injury, and to evaluate the impact of the Think First Saskatchewan school visit program on students' knowledge of brain and spinal cord injury prevention.


METHODS
A controlled, pre- and post-test design, self-report questionnaire was administered to 1,257 grade 6 and 7 students. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were used for data analysis. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.


RESULTS
Saskatchewan youth participate in activities that put them at risk for brain and spinal cord injury. The Think First Saskatchewan school visit program statistically improved self-reported knowledge of the students receiving the Think First message.


CONCLUSIONS
Think First Saskatchewan is a brain and spinal cord injury prevention program that significantly improves youth knowledge pertaining to injury prevention. Further evaluation of the program to include a more delayed survey of retention of knowledge, changes to behaviour, and reduction of brain and spinal cord injury are necessary.
Wesner
Marni L
ML
University of Alberta Glen Sather Sport Medicine Clinic. mwesner@ualberta.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012572:School Health Services; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires