title: The prevalence and predictors of helmet use by skiers and snowboarders at ski areas in western North America in 2001.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helmets may protect the heads of skiers and snowboarders. The prevalence of helmet use by these groups was estimated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helmet use was observed in face-to-face surveys (N = 2,978) on sun protection at 28 ski areas in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and British Columbia (0.7% refusal rate) from January to April 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Helmets were worn by 12.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-13.3) of the sample. Use was highest among guests who skied or snowboarded more frequently (fourth quartile vs. first quartile, odds ratio [OR] = 11.998 [95% CI, 6.774-21.251]; third vs. first, OR = 5.556 [95% CI, 3.119-9.896]; second vs. first, OR = 2.186 [95% CI, 1.162-4.112]), were experts (OR = 3.326 [95% CI, 1.297-8.528]), used snowboards (OR = 2.301 [95% CI, 1.731-3.058]), and were more educated (college graduate, OR = 2.167 [95% CI, 1.271-3.695]; some college, OR = 1.969 [95% CI, 1.130-3.431]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helmet use was generally low but may be high enough by experts, snowboarders, and in the central Rocky Mountains to produce a norm stimulating further adoption.
authors: The Cooper Institute, 14023 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401, USA. dbuller@denver.cooperinst.org
authors: David B
authors: DB
authors: Buller
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Andersen
authors: Barbara J
authors: BJ
authors: Walkosz
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Scott
authors: Gary R
authors: GR
authors: Cutter
authors: Mark B
authors: MB
authors: Dignan
authors: Jenifer H
authors: JH
authors: Voeks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012865:Skiing