title: Use of ecological study designs for injury prevention.
abstract: This paper provides an overview of the ecological study design and its application to injury prevention. The advantages and disadvantages of ecological designs are described and the principle characteristics of the ecological design are highlighted. The paper concludes by highlighting the pivotal role that ecological studies can have in our understanding of the complex interaction between the environment and injury, and the application of this design in elucidating key population based strategies for injury prevention.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division, The George Institute for International Health and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. mstevenson@thegeorgeinstitute.org
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004779:Environment Design; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D012107:Research Design; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*