title: Comprehensive Review of the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Programs: A 30-Year Success Story for Organized Neurosurgery.
abstract: Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are major public health issues causing significant death and long-term disability in the United States, with higher incidences in young and older adults. The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on injury prevention education and awareness for people of all ages, with a particular focus on educating children, teens, and young adults. ThinkFirst chapters have evaluated the effectiveness of the ThinkFirst programs in both children and teens by demonstrating significant improvement in knowledge regarding high-risk behaviors postintervention. Here, we review the available literature studying the efficacy of the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation programs, outline current ThinkFirst activity, and discuss future directions of the program. This review discusses the efforts of a number of ThinkFirst chapters in terms of research, legislation, and public communication. It showcases the success of ThinkFirst interventions and suggests future directions which can help improve national injury prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Emily H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Youngers
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Kayt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zundel
authors.affiliation: ThinkFirst National Injury Pre-vention Foundation, Naperville, Illinois.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerhardstein
authors.affiliation: Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertrán
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.affiliation: ThinkFirst National Injury Pre-vention Foundation, Naperville, Illinois.|Orange Park Neurosurgery, Orange Park, Florida.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Spatola
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.|Department of Neurosurgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.|Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Neuwelt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain injury; Injury prevention; Spinal cord injury; Traumatic injury