Youth injuries in British Columbia: type, settings, treatment and costs, 2003-2007.
In this study, the types and costs of unintentional injuries among adolescents transitioning to adulthood are examined to provide age-appropriate prevention strategies. The data were collected in 2003, 2005 and 2007, in which a total of 273 (41%), 228 (39%) and 176 (33%) youths, respectively, reported to be having at least one serious injury. The leading types of injuries were sprains/strains, broken bones and bruises. Most injuries occurred while playing sports, falling/tripping, biking or rollerblading, mainly in recreation centres (>12-15%), schools (<27-9%), and workplaces (>2-14.5%). Most injuries were treated at emergency departments, walk-in clinics and health professional's offices (68-84%). Prevention included: doing nothing; being more careful; giving up the activity and rarely, rehabilitation or physiotherapy. The total direct cost of treatment was $471,498, (Canadian) at a mean direct cost of $775 per injury. Improved sports training and educational strategies targeted at subgroups of adolescents are needed to reduce the human and economic burden of injury.
Leadbeater
Bonnie
B
Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3050 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P5, Canada. bleadbea@uvic.ca
Babul
Shelina
S
Jansson
Mikael
M
Scime
Giulia
G
Pike
Ian
I
D000293:Adolescent; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult