Sensation-seeking, criminality, and spinal cord injury: a case-control study

A retrospective case-control study was performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1985-1986 to test the hypotheses that 1) criminality is a risk factor for severe injury, and 2) the association between criminality and injury can be explained in terms of a common underlying factor--increased sensation-seeking tendencies. A total of 140 males with spinal cord injury were individually matched with 140 driver's license holders on age, race, sex, educational attainment, and zip code of residence and were interviewed by telephone. Criminality prior to spinal cord injury was measured by self-report and police records, and sensation seeking was measured by the Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility subscales of Zuckerman's Sensation-Seeking Scale (Form V). Those with spinal cord injuries were significantly more likely than controls to report a history of juvenile delinquency, adult criminality, and incarceration prior to the time of spinal cord injury. Statistically significant but modest difference were also found between cases and controls with respect to Disinhibition, Boredom Susceptibility, and the combined Sensation-Seeking Scale score. Matched-pairs logistic regression analysis indicated that the association between sensation seeking and spinal cord injury remained significant after controlling for criminality, with an estimated relative risk of 2.05 (95% confidence interval 1.67-2.53). However, the association between criminality and spinal cord injury also remained significant after controlling for sensation seeking (estimated relative risk = 2.04, 95% confidence interval 1.09-3.82). On the basis of these results, criminality and sensation seeking may be statistically significant but independent predictors of spinal cord injury.

A scheme for describing injury events

OBJECTIVE

To develop a data collection system that provides a more comprehensive picture of the components of the preinjury and injury phases of injury events than is usually available in medical records.

METHOD

Based on a scheme originally designed for study of occupational injuries among off-shore petroleum drilling workers, eight data areas were designated and lists of categories were developed to permit applicability to a general injury surveillance program. Medical records for 1600 injured patients treated at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont were reviewed to determine current frequency of recording such information.

RESULTS

A scheme for injury surveillance was designed that included location of the event, general and specific activities at time of injury, work relationship, nature of the event, animal or person contact, products or materials being used and those causing injury, and energy type and mechanism.

CONCLUSION

An acceptable scheme has been developed that can be used for general surveillance, or modified to focus in greater detail on specific environments, products, or event types.

Low-back injuries in a heavy industry. I. Worker and workplace factors

The costs and circumstances of low-back strains, low-back impact injuries, and non-low-back injuries among field employees of an offshore petroleum drilling company, 1979-1985, were compared. The objectives were to identify worker and workplace factors associated with low-back injuries, to identify factors differentially associated with lost-time injuries, and to formulate recommendations for the control of low-back injuries. Low-back-impact injuries resulted largely from falls. Efforts to prevent falls would have a potential to reduce other serious consequences as well as back injuries. Workers performing the heaviest physical labor were at highest risk of low-back strains. Based on activities precipitating the injury, modifications of work site, equipment, and procedures to help reduce low-back strains are recommended. Only job was a predictor of whether a low-back strain was likely to be associated with lost time. Even this association was lacking for low-back impact injuries. Cost control by preventing the small proportion of high cost injuries may not be feasible. Rather, subsets of low-back injuries defined, for example, by work site or activity can suggest options for intervention.

Low-back injuries in a heavy industry. II. Labor market forces

Trends in rates of low-back strains, low-back impact injuries, and non-low-back injuries among field employees of a petroleum drilling company, 1979-1985, were examined to investigate the relationship between economic factors and the incidence of low-back and other injuries. Economic indicators included the rate of resignations, a surrogate for turnover, and the rate of layoffs. Only lost-time low-back strain rates increased during times of worker layoffs. Non-low-back injury rates were highest during periods of high turnover and no layoffs. Although the increasing age of the work force and the anxiety generated by an industry-wide depression may have played a role, it is likely that the increase in lost-time low-back strain injuries was a worker response to possible layoff.

Factors affecting individual injury experience among petroleum drilling workers

To identify factors affecting the number of injuries experienced by petroleum drilling workers, we carried out a 44-month incidence density study on a cohort employed in January 1979 on mobile drilling units in the Gulf of Mexico. To control for job-related hazards, we computed a standardized ratio of observed to expected injuries for each worker based on his job history. The effect of personal and work history factors was then examined using analysis of variance. Age, rate of job changes, and rate of rig transfers had independent effects on injury rates. Length of service had little effect when age was controlled. The findings suggest that younger workers under stress such as job change may be more susceptible to injury than older workers, regardless of job. If so, targeted changes in procedures and environment which protect workers of all ages are important alternatives to reliance on supervision and experience in injury reduction.

Hospital falls: a persistent problem

During a 22-month period in 1981-82, 250 falls were recorded at a 152-bed acute care specialty hospital in a United States metropolitan area. Rates were highest for patients age 65 years and older and for patients admitted with mental disorders. Patients who had fallen once had a subsequent fall rate of 91.7 per 1,000 patients compared to an overall rate of 18.7 for first falls. Half the falls occurred in or enroute to the private bathroom attached to each room. Only three falls resulted in injury sufficient to prolong hospital stay.

Major mishaps among mobile offshore drilling units, 1955-1981: time trends and fatalities

Major mishaps among mobile offshore drilling units worldwide from 1955-1981 were identified from industry and government sources. Based on annual numbers of rigs in service and typical staffing patterns, annual mishap rates and fatality rates for rig types and mishap categories were computed. While the frequency of major mishaps has increased in recent years, the mishap rate per 100 rig-years of service has remained stable. The overall stability obscures the fact that jack-up rigs have had an increasing mishap rate while the rate for other rig types combined has gradually declined. Although the fatal mishap rate has also remained constant, the annual fatality rate per 100 000 full time equivalent (FTE) workers has risen sharply. This can be attributed to increasing numbers of lives lost in environmental mishaps while deaths from operational mishaps have declined. There were 344 fatalities during the 27-year period. Although an average of some 13 deaths per year worldwide appears minimal, the relatively small size of the workforce gives this number significance particularly when it is noted that 'occupational' fatalities, those occurring in the course of routine operations, are not included. The overall fatality rate secondary to major mishaps was 84.3 per 100 000 FTE worker-years.

A model for the incorporation of alumni-faculty feedback into curriculum planning

Recent changes in the scope and nature of public health jobs and the characteristics of public health students prompted the development and testing of a strategy for curriculum planning based on information obtained from alumni and faculty. Identification of job activities viewed as important by both faculty and alumni for the largest number of job groups suggested a management-oriented core curriculum which could be supplemented by skills and knowledge related to the type of job which the student was preparing to enter.

The imported fire ant: dimensions of the urban problem

Although the imported fire ant is a known rural problem, the problem it may pose to urban dwellers has not been documented. A telephone survey of 240 households selected by a probability sample of an upper middle class suburb of New Orleans was carried out to ascertain the experiences of residents with fire ants from June to August 1973. Overall, ant stings were reported for 29% of the study population, with sting rates of 55% among children under 10 years old. Among those stung, at least minimal allergic reactions were reported for 17%, and 4.4% required medical consultation. Of households with outdoor premises, 55% reported fire ant infestation, 86% of these used pesticides for fire ant control, and few felt that community assistance was needed for private property. Half of the respondents, however, favored a community control program for public grounds. These data may provide a basis for decision as to the need for community efforts in fire ant control.

Age-associated changes in fecal excretion patterns of strain 93 chick embryo lethal orphan virus in chicks

Oral incoulation of chickens with strain 93 (chick embryo lethal orphan) virus produced a subclinical infection of the gastrointestinal tract. The pattern of fecal virus excretion in birds infected at 4 or more weeks of age (adult pattern) differed from that in chicks infected when newly hatched (juvenile pattern). By comparison with the juvenile pattern, the adult pattern was characterized by lower peak titers of fecal virus, earlier decline in virus titer, and shorter duration of excretion. Quantitative studies on hatchmates infected at various ages showed that these characteristics are established sequentially with age: lower peak titers were observed in birds infected at 2 to 4 days of age; early decline in titer was first observed in birds infected at 14 days of age; and curtailed excretion was observed in birds infected at 21 days of age. Possible mechanisms operative in the autosterilization process are discussed.