The influence of pre-injury behaviour on children's type of accident, type of injury and severity of injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between children's pre-injury behaviour and accident type (high vs. low risk), injury type (traumatic brain injury (TBI), fractures/dislocations and other injuries) and TBI severity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional comparison of 205 children with TBI aged 6-14 years, with 101 children aged 7-14 years with non-TBI injuries.


METHODS
Pre-injury behavioural data were collected via parental report with the Child Behaviour Checklist. Information on children's accident type and TBI severity was obtained from medical records.


RESULTS
The pre-injury behaviour of children involved in high or low risk accidents did not differ. Pre-injury behavioural differences were observed among children with TBI, fractures/dislocations, other injuries and normative samples. The involvement of children in high and low risk accidents differed depending on the severity of TBI. Pre-injury behaviour of children with mild or moderate/severe TBI was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-injury behaviour does not appear to influence children's involvement in high vs. low risk accidents or the severity of their TBI. However pre-injury behaviour increases children's differential risk for types of accidental injuries.
Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia.
Katherine A
KA
Olsson
Robyne M
RM
Le Brocque
Justin A
JA
Kenardy
Vicki
V
Anderson
Susan H
SH
Spence
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology