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Tang Y, Abildso CG, Lilly CL, Winstanley EL, Rudisill TM. Risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use among West Virginia college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2024; 25:579-588. [PMID: 38572915 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2024.2333906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use (DAMU) among West Virginia college students. METHODS Participants were recruited from West Virginia University between September and November 2022. The study sample was restricted to students who were ≥18 years of age; reported recently driving; possessed a current, valid driver's license from any US state; and were enrolled for at least one credit hour in the Fall 2022 semester. RESULTS Among respondents (N = 772), 28.9% reported DAMU. Students who had a GPA of B (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-4.42), smoked or ingested marijuana in the past year (AOR: 26.51, 95% CI: 10.27-68.39), drove after drinking (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.18-4.79), and used both marijuana and alcohol concurrently and then drove (AOR: 10.39, 95% CI: 2.32-46.54) associated with DAMU. Individuals who felt the behavior was somewhat dangerous or not dangerous or thought their peers approved of DAMU showed significant associations with DAMU. CONCLUSIONS As DAMU was prevalent, future interventions that raise awareness of the danger and potential consequences of DAMU may be needed to reduce this risky behavior on college campuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuni Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Christiaan G Abildso
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Christa L Lilly
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Erin L Winstanley
- General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Toni M Rudisill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Jagtiani P, Young T, Ahmed W, Devarajan A, Hickman ZL, Jones S. Prevalence of Acute Alcohol Use in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis From Queens, New York. Cureus 2024; 16:e58928. [PMID: 38800166 PMCID: PMC11122664 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study investigates the impact of New York's relaxed alcohol consumption policies during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on alcohol-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center in Queens. Given the limited research available, this study critically explores the link between public health policies and trauma care. It aims to address a significant gap in the literature and highlight the implications of alcohol regulations during global health emergencies. Methodology A retrospective analysis was conducted among trauma patients from 2019 to 2021. The study period was divided into the following three periods: pre-lockdown (March 7, 2019, to July 31, 2019), lockdown (March 7, 2020, to July 31, 2020), and post-lockdown (March 7, 2021, to July 31, 2021). Data on demographics, injury severity, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected. The study focused on assessing the correlation between New York's alcohol policies and alcohol-related TBI admissions during these periods. Results A total of 1,074 admissions were analyzed. The study found no significant changes in alcohol-positive patients over the full calendar years of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (42.65%, 38.91%, and 31.16% respectively; p = 0.08711). Specifically, during the lockdown period, rates of alcohol-positive TBI patients remained unchanged, despite the relaxed alcohol policies. There was a decrease in alcohol-related TBI admissions in 2021 compared to 2020 during the lockdown period. Conclusions Our study concludes that New York's specific alcohol policies during the COVID-19 pandemic were not correlated with an increase in alcohol-related TBI admissions. Despite the relaxation of alcohol consumption laws, there was no increase in alcohol positivity among TBI patients. The findings suggest a complex relationship between public policies, alcohol use, and trauma during pandemic conditions, indicating that factors other than policy relaxation might influence alcohol-related trauma incidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pemla Jagtiani
- School of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Queens, USA
| | - Tirone Young
- Medical School, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Wasil Ahmed
- Medical School, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Alex Devarajan
- Medical School, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Zachary L Hickman
- Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Salazar Jones
- Neurological Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA
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Jojczuk M, Naylor K, Serwin A, Dolliver I, Głuchowski D, Gajewski J, Karpiński R, Krakowski P, Torres K, Nogalski A, Al-Wathinani AM, Goniewicz K. Descriptive Analysis of Trauma Admission Trends before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2024; 13:259. [PMID: 38202266 PMCID: PMC10780071 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic injuries are a significant global health concern, with profound medical and socioeconomic impacts. This study explores the patterns of trauma-related hospitalizations in the Lublin Province of Poland, with a particular focus on the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. AIM OF THE STUDY The primary aim of this research was to assess the trends in trauma admissions, the average length of hospital stays, and mortality rates associated with different types of injuries, comparing urban and rural settings over two distinct time periods: 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. METHODS This descriptive study analyzed trauma admission data from 35 hospitals in the Lublin Province, as recorded in the National General Hospital Morbidity Study (NGHMS). Patients were classified based on the International Classification of Diseases Revision 10 (ICD-10) codes. The data were compared for two periods: an 11-week span during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and the equivalent period in 2019. RESULTS The study found a decrease in overall trauma admissions during the pandemic years (11,394 in 2020-2021 compared to 17,773 in 2018-2019). Notably, the average length of hospitalization increased during the pandemic, especially in rural areas (from 3.5 days in 2018-2019 to 5.5 days in 2020-2021 for head injuries). Male patients predominantly suffered from trauma, with a notable rise in female admissions for abdominal injuries during the pandemic. The maximal hospitalization days were higher in rural areas for head and neck injuries during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights significant disparities in trauma care between urban and rural areas and between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. It underscores the need for healthcare systems to adapt to changing circumstances, particularly in rural settings, and calls for targeted strategies to address the specific challenges faced in trauma care during public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Jojczuk
- Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.S.); (I.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Katarzyna Naylor
- Independent Unit of Emergency Medical Services and Specialist Emergency, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Adrianna Serwin
- Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.S.); (I.D.); (A.N.)
- Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 4/6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
| | - Iwona Dolliver
- Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.S.); (I.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Dariusz Głuchowski
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jakub Gajewski
- Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618 Lublin, Poland; (J.G.); (R.K.)
| | - Robert Karpiński
- Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618 Lublin, Poland; (J.G.); (R.K.)
| | - Przemysław Krakowski
- Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.S.); (I.D.); (A.N.)
- Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology Department, Carolina Medical Center, Pory 78, 02-757 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Torres
- Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 7, 20-093 Lubln, Poland;
| | - Adam Nogalski
- Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland; (A.S.); (I.D.); (A.N.)
| | - Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani
- Department of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Mansoor K, De Souza Goncalves B, Lakhani HV, Tashani M, Jones SE, Sodhi K, Thompson E, Dougherty T. Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among Trauma Patients in Rural West Virginia. Cureus 2023; 15:e36468. [PMID: 37090413 PMCID: PMC10117230 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance abuse poses considerable clinical, economic, and social challenges. West Virginia is hailed as the epicenter of the substance abuse in the United States, the prevalence and pattern of different trauma mechanisms in a rural context or in patients with different forms of substance abuse remain unclear. OBJECTIVE We performed the following analysis to understand the prevalence of substance abuse in patients with different trauma mechanisms in the rural setting with high substance abuse in the West Virginia. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of adult trauma patients (motor vehicle, fall, assault, firearm suicide, brawl/rape and machinery) hospitalized in two tertiary care hospitals in West Virginia between 2006 and 2016. We identified all patients who had a urine drug screen (UDS) test and extracted the data related to the substance and trauma. RESULTS Among 8734 patients screened using UDS, 5940 (68.1%) patients were tested positive for the substance. Opiates, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and cannabis were the four most common substances identified in trauma victims. In all instances, the prescribed drug was less than 20%. Fatal outcome was observed in 366 patients in the sample, with 44% (n=162) testing positive for UDS, 12% (n=45) testing positive for only alcohol, and 15% (n=56) testing positive for both alcohol and UDS. Regarding the trauma mechanism, the motor vehicle accident (MVA) was the most prominent with a clear association of substance abuse with fatal outcome. CONCLUSION The most prevalent trauma mechanism was a MVA, with a strong link between drug usage and mortality. Due to the high incidence of positive substance abuse screens, UDS tests may need to be more widely implemented in trauma in the West Virginia region. The findings of this study might help in establishing regional or national policies to reduce acute substance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanaan Mansoor
- Cardiology, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
| | - Bruno De Souza Goncalves
- Surgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
| | - Hari Vishal Lakhani
- Surgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
| | - Mohammad Tashani
- Cardiology, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
| | - Sharon E Jones
- Pharmacology, St. Mary's Medical Center, Huntington, USA
| | - Komal Sodhi
- Surgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
| | - Ellen Thompson
- Cardiology, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA
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