Injury as a global phenomenon of concern in nursing science.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss injury research as a phenomenon of concern in nursing science.


METHODS
Injury is defined as the physical damage that results when the human body is briefly subjected to intolerable levels of energy. It is the leading cause of death in the first 4 decades of life in high-income nations and is second only to infectious diseases as a leading cause of death in low- and middle-income nations.


METHODS
Review and discussion of relevant scientific and theoretical literature in both injury and nursing science.


RESULTS
Nurse scientists can apply unique perspectives to increase understanding of injury and its consequences. Fertile areas for nursing inquiry include identifying people at risk, developing models to explain the association between risk-taking and injury, testing interventions to prevent and limit injury, and creating and refining interventions that are culturally relevant to subpopulations most at risk for injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The mandate to improve global heath should lead to nursing inquiry about this phenomenon, including developing and testing interventions to prevent and reduce injury.
Sommers
Marilyn Sawyer
MS
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 420 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6096, USA. ssommer@nursing.upenn.edu
D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*