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Mahdavi Sharif P, Najafi Pazooki S, Ghodsi Z, Nouri A, Ghoroghchi HA, Tabrizi R, Shafieian M, Heydari ST, Atlasi R, Sharif-Alhoseini M, Ansari-Moghaddam A, O’Reilly G, Rahimi-Movaghar V. Effective factors of improved helmet use in motorcyclists: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:26. [PMID: 36604638 PMCID: PMC9814199 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14893-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Road traffic injuries (RTI) are one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality, especially among children and young adults. Motorcycle crashes constitute a significant part of RTIs. Policymakers believe that safety helmets are the single most important protection against motorcycle-related injuries. However, motorcyclists are not wearing helmets at desirable rates. This study systematically investigated factors that are positively associated with helmet usage among two-wheeled motorcycle riders. METHODS We performed a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library with relevant keywords. No language, date of publication, or methodological restrictions were applied. All the articles that had evaluated the factors associated with helmet-wearing behavior and were published before December 31, 2021, were included in our study and underwent data extraction. We assessed the quality of the included articles using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for observational studies. RESULTS A total of 50 articles were included. Most evidence suggests that helmet usage is more common among drivers (compared to passengers), women, middle-aged adults, those with higher educations, married individuals, license holders, and helmet owners. Moreover, the helmet usage rate is higher on highways and central city roads and during mornings and weekdays. Travelers of longer distances, more frequent users, and riders of motorcycles with larger engines use safety helmets more commonly. Non-helmet-using drivers seem to have acceptable awareness of mandatory helmet laws and knowledge about their protective role against head injuries. Importantly, complaint about helmet discomfort is somehow common among helmet-using drivers. CONCLUSIONS To enhance helmet usage, policymakers should emphasize the vulnerability of passengers and children to RTIs, and that fatal crashes occur on low-capacity roads and during cruising at low speeds. Monitoring by police should expand to late hours of the day, weekends, and lower capacity and less-trafficked roads. Aiming to enhance the acceptance of other law-abiding behaviors (e.g., wearing seat belts, riding within the speed limits, etc.), especially among youth and young adults, will enhance the prevalence of helmet-wearing behavior among motorcycle riders. Interventions should put their focus on improving the attitudes of riders regarding safety helmets, as there is acceptable knowledge of their benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouya Mahdavi Sharif
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Najafi Pazooki
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghodsi
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Nouri
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | | | - Reza Tabrizi
- grid.411135.30000 0004 0415 3047Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Mehdi Shafieian
- grid.411368.90000 0004 0611 6995The Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Taghi Heydari
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rasha Atlasi
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sharif-Alhoseini
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam
- grid.488433.00000 0004 0612 8339Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Gerard O’Reilly
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.46072.370000 0004 0612 7950Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Visiting Professor, Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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