title: Monitoring trends in violence: a delayed response to Estrada (2006).
abstract: Reliable and valid indicators of assault are required to effectively monitor population trends and ensure that resources are targeted effectively. Trends in assault, reported by the media, based on crime statistics, or on victim surveys, are substantively affected by extraneous factors. In 2006, Estrada offered up solutions to the difficulties posed by crime statistics and victim surveys, by proposing the development of indicators based on hospital discharge data, albeit with identified limitations. This article is a response to Estrada's proposition, and works through each of Estrada's identified limitations of hospital discharge data. Potential problems with Estrada's suggestions are highlighted in our article and solutions, based on the current evidence, are proposed.
authors.affiliation: University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gulliver
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langley
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cryer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000639:trends*
keywords: community violence; criminology; violence exposure