Injury Control Part 2: Strategies for Prevention

Abstract : Epidemiology has made significant contributions to the improvement of human health by reducing the burden of acute infectious and chronic diseases. This report applies epidemiologic methods to injury prevention. We review two methodological approaches that can be used to prevent injury. Passive methods modify the environment so that individuals are protected from injury without having to take any additional precautions. In contrast, active strategies require an individual to take action in order to reap the benefit of reduced injury morbidity or mortality. This report reviews various health psychology theories and approaches and two conceptual tools for developing injury control interventions: the Haddon matrix and Haddon's ten strategies. We discuss the management of injuries in the field, and factors that render medical care services optimally useful in reducing morbidity and mortality once an injury has occurred. These factors include availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability of medical care services. A companion report, Injury Control Part I: Understanding Injuries in the Military Environment, describes the scope of the injury problem in the military; defines injury; reviews several different methods of classifying injury; and reviews the types of hazards that threaten the health and safety of soldiers, both in wartime and peacetime.