title: Characteristics of youth seeking emergency care for assault injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize youth seeking care for assault injuries, the context of violence, and previous emergency department (ED) service utilization to inform ED-based injury prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of youth (14-24) presenting to an urban ED with an assault injury completed a survey of partner violence, gun/knife victimization, gang membership, and context of the fight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 925 youth entered the ED with an assault injury; 718 completed the survey (15.4% refused); 730 comparison youth were sampled. The fights leading to the ED visit occurred at home (37.6%) or on streets (30.4%), and were commonly with a known person (68.3%). Fights were caused by issues of territory (23.3%) and retaliation (8.9%); 20.8% of youth reported substance use before the fight. The assault-injured group reported more peer/partner violence and more gun experiences. Assault-injured youth reported higher past ED utilization for assault (odds ratio [OR]: 2.16) or mental health reasons (OR: 7.98). Regression analysis found the assault-injured youth had more frequent weapon use (OR: 1.25) and substance misuse (OR: 1.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assault-injured youth seeking ED care report higher levels of previous violence, weapon experience, and substance use compared with a comparison group seeking care for other complaints. Almost 10% of assault-injured youth had another fight-related ED visit in the previous year, and ~5% had an ED visit for mental health. Most fights were with people known to them and for well-defined reasons, and were therefore likely preventable. The ED is a critical time to interact with youth to prevent future morbidity.
authors: University of Michigan Injury Center, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr, Suite H-3200, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-5570. stroh@umich.edu.
authors: Rebecca M
authors: RM
authors: Cunningham
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Ranney
authors: Manya
authors: M
authors: Newton
authors: Whitney
authors: W
authors: Woodhull
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Zimmerman
authors: Maureen A
authors: MA
authors: Walton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol; assault; emergency department; injuries; youth