Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
INJURY RISK MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH CENTREA
NN
UA
LR
EP
OR
T2005
IRM
RC
NSW INJURY RISK MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH CENTRE
DIRECTOR'S FOREWORD 1
BACKGROUND 3
IRMRC ORGANISATIONAL CHART 4
IRMRC STAFF 5
BUILDING CAPACITY IN RESEARCH 6
IRMRC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES 8
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT 8
QUARTERLY REVIEW COMMITTEE 8
RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE 9
DATA LINKAGE PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE 9
CENTRE ACTIVITIES 10
DATA SYSTEMS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 10
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INJURY SURVEILLANCE 12
ROAD SAFETY 15
SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL INJURY 22
WORK-RELATED INJURY 29
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING 33
TEACHING AND SEMINAR 34
TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO POLICY AND PRACTICE 35
Government and Policy Forums Attended 35
Invited Presentation at Policy Forums 35
Staff Membership of Committees, Panels and Working Parties 36
Letters/Editorials/Other Articles 37
LIST OF MAJOR COLLABORATORS 38
VISITORS TO THE CENTRES 39
PUBLICATIONS 40
PEER-REVIEW JOURNAL PAPERS 40
RESEARCH REPORTS 40
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS 41
PRESENTATIONS 42
CONFERENCES 42
OTHER PRESENTATIONS 44
LECTURES 44
AWARDS 45Adv
anci
ng r
isk
man
agem
ent t
hrou
gh th
e co
nduc
t of h
igh
qual
ity o
f res
earc
h ca
paci
tyan
d th
e tr
ansl
atio
n of
res
earc
h in
to p
olic
y an
d pr
actic
e.
ISSN 0-9580633-5-4
Published by: NSW INJURY RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH CENTREUNSW, SYDNEY NSW 2052, AUSTRALIATelephone: +61 (2) 9385 4207 Facsimile: +61 (2) 9385 6040 http://www.irmrc.unsw.edu.au
Design and Production: Lawton Design pty ltd
Co
nte
nts
01
Dir
ec
tor’s
Fo
re
wo
rd
It is becoming increasingly apparent thatconducting high quality research, alone, is notsufficient to ensure large scale injuryprevention gains. Whilst leading-edgeresearch, such as that conducted by the NSWInjury Risk Management Research Centre in2005, is critical to inform prevention efforts, itis also necessary that such research is activelytranslated into safety policy andimplementation efforts by practitioners.
In 2005, the IRMRC maintained its majorefforts in data mining and injury surveillanceof the State's injury data sources. Through itsstrong relationships with its funding partners,it is uniquely placed to provide an evidenceprovision service to the NSW government andthe broader injury prevention community. Wehave largely focussed on two major areas ofconcern - understanding road crashes betterand also identifying factors associated withfalls in older people. We have developeddata linkage approaches that now mean thatNSW has a valuable source of linked policecrash records and hospitalisations for roadcrashes that occur throughout the State. Wehave also developed key indicators againstwhich the NSW Falls Policy can be evaluated.A further example is our work on the cost ofwork related injuries and illness for the NSWWorkCover Authority.
The Centre's data informing activities, such asthese, directly feed into policy developmentprocesses because they are critical as the basisof informed policy decision making. TheCentre's relationship with governmentagencies is a two way process and we havealso engaged the relevant bodies in our workby including them in our project advisorycommittees, alongside other stakeholders andresearch experts.
Other research conducted by the Centre staffhas been aimed at understanding determinantsof safety or, in some cases, risk takingbehaviours. Most notable have been ourstudies into fatigue issues in the truckingindustry, young driver attitudes andbehaviours, risk factors for injury in cricketersfast bowlers and safety performance measuresin the mining industry. This knowledge isnecessary to inform the development ofeffective implementation strategies for safety.
A major initiative in 2005, was the bringingtogether of researchers and policy makers tocontribute to futures planning for injuryprevention, as part of a larger planningprocess undertaken by NSW Health. TheIRMRC hosted a discussion forum at theUniversity of New South Wales andsubsequently wrote a background paper forinclusion in the NSW Health Futures PlanningDocumentation.
Our policy-informing efforts extended evenfurther to an IRMRC submission to theProductivity Commission's forum on theReview of the Australian Consumer ProductSafety System and two invited presentations at
the NSW Child and Adolescent InjuryPrevention Symposium held at the NSWParliament House in November. Led by theIRMRC, this symposium culminated in aconsensus resolution that "Trauma is the mostsignificant health issue affecting the lifeexpectancy, physical wellbeing and quality oflife of all children/adolescents. Ourchildren/adolescents have a fundamental rightnot be exposed to risks that could kill orseriously maim them. Furthermore, allAustralians have a duty of care to protect ourchildren from fatal harm, irrespective of itsintent. It's about time the Government sparedno expense to prevent trauma as a matter ofpriority."
Partnerships with other agencies are alsoimportant for injury prevention researchtranslation. The Centre was pleased to sign ajoint Memorandum of Understanding withYouthsafe, an advocacy and injury preventionbody focussing on adolescent and youthinjury, to ensure that our two groups wouldwork closely together. As with any researchendeavour, our partnerships with researchcollaborators from both within the Universityof New South Wales and other universities,has also ensured high quality research outputsin 2005.
We have invested significant amounts of ourtime and effort in disseminating the results ofour research throughout the year. A largenumber of IRMRC staff were keynote orinvited speakers at international scientificmeetings such as the First World Congress onSports Injury Prevention (in Oslo, Norway),the Transportation Research Board (inWashington, USA), the InternationalConference on Fatigue Management inTransportation Operations (in Seattle, USA), ameeting of noise experts in Utrecht(Netherlands) and the 6th Annual meeting ofthe Japanese Society for Clinical Pathways(Nigata, Japan). We have found that givingpresentations is a powerful means ofpromoting our research and its real-worldimplications and an increasing number of ourstaff have presented in a range of forumsduring 2005.
The IRMRC is moving its research activities,and dissemination of findings, towards moreof an outcome focus. Our researchpublication approach, participation andpresentation in appropriate forums,partnerships with government agencies andother key injury groups, and mentoring andtraining of young researchers will ensure thatour research continues to have maximalimpact and injury prevention benefit for all inyears to come.
‘It is
bec
omin
g in
crea
sing
ly a
ppar
ent t
hat c
ondu
ctin
g hi
gh q
ualit
y re
sear
ch, a
lone
, is
not
suffi
cien
t to
ensu
re la
rge
scal
e in
jury
pre
vent
ion
gain
s...i
t is
also
nec
essa
ry th
at s
uch
rese
arch
is a
ctiv
ely
tran
slat
ed in
to s
afet
y po
licy
and
impl
emen
tatio
n ef
fort
s by
pra
ctiti
oner
s.”
DIR
ECTO
R: Professor C
aroline Finch
02
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
CAPACITY OF THE CENTREIn 2005, there were three seniorresearchers at the Centre, six other fulltime research staff and six part-time researchers, fifteenpostgraduate research scholars andapproximately ten casual researchassistants. NHMRC ResearchFellowships were held by all seniorresearchers and two of the otherresearch staff. In addition, the IRMRCalso hosted placements for biostatisticaltrainees and public health officers fromNSW Health. There were three fulltime equivalent administrative staff. A Research Manager was appointed in2005 to provide policy and planningsupport to the Director as well as tostreamline administrative process andimplement a comprehensive projectmanagement approach to support theresearch effort.
03
Ba
ckg
ro
un
d
The New South Wales (NSW) Injury RiskManagement Research Centre (IRMRC, TheCentre) is an independent research centre ofthe University of New South Wales (UNSW)and has strong collaborative andadministrative links with the Faculties ofScience, Medicine and Engineering. It wasestablished in 1999/2000 in a partnershipbetween UNSW, NSW Health, the MotorAccidents Authority (MAA) and the Roadsand Traffic Authority (RTA).
The IRMRC receives core funding from NSWHealth, MAA and RTA. Other researchactivities are supported by AustralianResearch Council (ARC) grants, NationalHealth and Medical Research Council(NHMRC) grants and other industry sourcesas identified in the section in the Reportentitled 'Centre Activities', beginning on page15. Some staff support is also provided byfellowships and scholarships from theNHMRC or UNSW. In 2005, the IRMRCcontinued to be the lead agency in apartnership that was awarded a $2.5 millionNHMRC Capacity Building Grant for theperiod 2005-2009
The core funding partners have significantinvestments in injury prevention in NSW:> The Injury Prevention and Policy Branch
of NSW Health is responsible fordeveloping policy and program initiativeswhich reduce the burden of death andserious injury in NSW.
> The MAA is a statutory corporation thatregulates the NSW Motor AccidentsScheme, the Compulsory Third Partypersonal injury scheme for motor vehiclesregistered in New South Wales.
> The RTA is the NSW State Governmentagency responsible for providing roadplanning, construction and maintenancesolutions for the NSW community, with anemphasis on meeting, community,environmental, regulatory and economicneeds and in so doing, for improving roadsafety through better road user behaviour,vehicles and roads to save lives andreduce injuries.
OBJECTIVES AND MISSION OF
THE CENTRE
The Centre's mission is to contribute to a"whole of government" approach toexamining injury risk in the community andto provide research services to the corefunding and other agencies concerned withinjury risk management. The Centre's coreresearch project reflect the focus of the corefunding agencies, NSW Health, MAA andRTA, whilst broader research programsupplements these areas.
The IRMRC plays a leading role in researchon injury risk, prevention and interventionthrough the:> Provision of innovative research leadership
> Building of risk management researchcapacity and the mentoring of early careerresearchers and other trainees
> Dissemination of the results of soundresearch in peer reviewed publications aswell as other mediums of communication,ranging from conference presentations andworkshops to editorial pieces for themainstream media.
> Co-ordination of relevant expertise,nationally and internationally, to developsolutions to injury risk managementproblems identified by the Centre's ownresearch, its funding partners or otherexternal agencies
> Data mining and analysis of the data setsheld securely at the Centre which include:the Inpatient Statistical Collection of NSWHealth, the NSW Traffic Accident DatabaseSystem, the MAA Claims Register andStatistical Database.
> Translation of research findings into policyand practice though involvement in policyforums and working parties, as well as thecommunication of this activity throughvarious media.
> Nurturing and development of partnershipswith government agencies and otherstakeholders.
“In
2005
, the
IRM
RC
con
tinue
d to
be
the
lead
age
ncy
in a
par
tner
ship
that
was
aw
arde
d a
$2.5
mill
ion
NH
MR
C C
apac
ity B
uild
ing
Gra
nt fo
r th
e pe
riod
200
5-20
09”
04
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
IRM
RC
Org
an
isa
tio
na
l C
ha
rt
05
IRM
RC
Sta
ff
Director and NHMRC Principal Research
Fellow
Prof Caroline Finch - PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Deputy Director and NHMRC Senior
Research Fellow
Associate Prof Ann Williamson - PhD, BSc
(Hons)
Research Manager and Research Officer
Mary Potter Forbes - MCom, BHA, RN
NHMRC RESEARCH FELLOWS
NHMRC Capacity Building Grant Research
Fellow
Dr Julie Hatfield - PhD, BA (Hons)
Dr Shauna Sherker - PhD, MSc, BSc (Jan-
Aug)
NHMRC Public Health (Australia)
Fellowship
Dr Shauna Sherker - PhD, MSc, BSc (Aug
2005 onwards)
RESEARCH FELLOWS
Dr Andrew Hayen - PhD, MBiostat, BA
(Hons)
Annaliese Dowling - MSc(Hons), BSc(Hons)
Dr Susanne Murphy - PhD, BSc (Hons)
Dr Elizabeth Roediger - PhD, BSc (Hons)
ADJUNCT SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
Dr John Orchard - FASCP, FACSM, FASMF,
PhD, MD, MBBS, BA
VISITING RESEARCH FELLOW
Helen Moore - Grad Dip App Epi, MPH, BSc
(Hons)
SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICERS
Soufiane Boufous - MPH (Hons), BH (Hons)
Rena Friswell - BA (Hons)
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS/OFFICERS
Rebecca Dennis - B HlthSci (Hons)
Wei Du - MBBS, MSc & Tech, MPH
Ralston Fernandes - BSc (Hons)
Maria Romiti - BSpSc
Marcia Schmertmann - MPH, BSc
Naomi Dunn - BSc (Hons)
Rebecca Mitchell - BA (Psych), MA (Psych),
MOHS
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS
Dr Andrew Marich - MBBS, BSc (Hons)
Melissa Irwin - MPH, B.App.Sc
(Physiotherapy)
BIOSTATISTICAL TRAINEE
Sanja Lujic - MStat, BSc (Hons)
Dr Robin Turner - PhD, BSc (Hons)
CASUAL RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Timothy Chamberlain
Marcus Haines
Linda Hayes
Eugene Queh
Danny Redrup
Irina Roman
Daniel Scherly
Patrick Shun
Justin Shute
Alex Whiteside
Adam Zinman
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Administration and Finance Manager - Gina
Lam - MBA, BA (Hons)
Executive Assistant to the Director - Henny
Oentojo - MBA, B.Bus
Administrative Officer - Patricia Villaroel -
B.Music, TAFE Music Cert II
Finance Officer - Teresa Wong - B.Acc
Phot
o: IR
MR
C s
taff
in 2
005
Bac
k R
ow: W
ei D
u, S
oufia
ne B
oufo
us, A
ndre
w H
ayen
, Hen
ny O
ento
jo, J
ulie
Hat
field
, Sus
anne
Mur
phy,
Tim
Cha
mbe
rlai
n, R
obyn
Tur
ner,
Mar
ia R
omiti
, Ren
a Fr
isw
ell,
Car
olin
e Fi
nch.
Fro
nt R
ow: A
nn W
illia
mso
n, M
ary
Potte
rFor
bes,
Nao
mi D
unn,
Reb
ecca
Mitc
hell,
Mel
issa
Irw
in, P
atri
cia
Vill
aroe
l.
06
Bu
ild
ing
ca
pa
cit
y i
n R
ese
arc
h IRMRC is committed to furthering capacity in injury risk management research. To this end,
we supervised and mentored 15 postgraduate research students in 2005. All UNSW-based
IRMRC students are formally enrolled in other UNSW schools for administrative purposes
PhD STUDENTS
Troy BakerDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PsychologyMain supervisor: A/Prof Ann WilliamsonProject/thesis title: Error in skilledbehaviour
Soufiane BoufousDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisor: A/Prof Stephen Lord (Princeof Wales Medical Research Institute)Project/thesis title: Reporting injury onolder people: Epidemiological profile andknowledge gains from data linkage
Rebecca Dennis Degree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of SafetyScienceMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisors: Dr Andrew McIntosh(School of Safety Science, UNSW), ProfBruce Elliott (UWA)Project/thesis title: Risk factors forrepetitive microtrauma injury to adolescentand adult cricket fast bowlers
Wei DuDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisor: Dr Julie HatfieldProject/Thesis title: Population basedevaluation of the role of child restraints inpreventing child road trauma
Ralston Fernandes Degree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PsychologyMain supervisor: Dr Julie HatfieldCo-supervisor: Dr Soames Job (RTA)Project/thesis title: Risk taking attitudes ofyoung NSW drivers
Rena FriswellDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: A/Prof Ann WilliamsonCo-supervisor: A/Prof Deborah Black(School of Public Health and CommunityMedicine, UNSW)Project/thesis title: Driver Fatigue
Lara HarveyDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisor: Dr Shauna SherkerProject/Thesis title: The epidemiology andprevention of burns and scalds in NSW
Rebecca MitchellDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisor: Dr Andrew Hayen, Prof RodMcClure (Griffith University), Dr TimDriscoll (University of Sydney)Project/Thesis title: Injury surveillance inNSW: systematic review and futureopportunities
Basema SaddikDegree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: A/Prof Ann WilliamsonCo-supervisor: A/Prof Deborah Black(School of Public Health and CommunityMedicine, UNSW)Project/Thesis title: Assessing neurotoxicityin working children in Lebanon
Marcia Schmertmann Degree enrolled: PhDSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: A/Prof Ann WilliamsonCo-supervisor: A/Prof Deborah Black(School of Public Health and CommunityMedicine, UNSW)Project/thesis title: Predictive value ofidentified environmental, socio-demographic and behavioural factors forunintentional poisonings in young children
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
07
Bu
ildin
g c
ap
ac
ity in
Re
se
arc
h“I
RM
RC
is c
omm
itted
to fu
rthe
ring
cap
acity
in in
jury
ris
k m
anag
emen
t res
earc
h. ”
MASTERS STUDENTS - RESEARCH STUDENTS
Maria RomitiDegree enrolled: Master of Safety Science(Research)School of enrolment: School of SafetyScienceMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchCo-supervisor: Dr Andrew McIntosh(School of Safety Science, UNSW) Project/thesis title: The Junior AustralianFootball Safety Study (JAFSS)
Kiwami ToriDegree enrolled: Master of OrganisationalPsychology School of enrolment: School of PsychologyMain supervisor: A/Prof Ann WilliamsonProject/thesis title: Work satisfaction,organisational commitment andpsychological contract of temporaryemployees
John QuinnDegree enrolled: Master of OccupationalHealth and SafetySchool of enrolment: School of SafetyScienceMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchProject/thesis title: Hydration status andinjuries in Australian football
Katherine RaeDegree enrolled: Australian College ofSports Physicians Fellowship TrainingMain supervisor: Prof Caroline Finch Project/thesis title: Classifying sportsmedicine diagnoses: A comparison of theInternational classification of diseases 10-Australian modification (ICD-10AM) andthe Orchard sports injury classificationsystem (OSICS-8)
Louise ShawDegree enrolled: Masters of Public HealthSchool of enrolment: School of PublicHealth and Community MedicineMain supervisor: Prof Caroline FinchProject/Thesis title: Injuries in juniorcricket
MASTER STUDENTS - MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS PHYSICIANS
TRAINEE (RESEARCH PROJECT)
but are supervised or co-supervised by full-time academics of the IRMRC. In 2005, IRMRC
students were enrolled in the UNSW Faculties of Science and Medicine.
08
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
IRM
RC
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Co
mm
itte
es
PROFESSOR ELSPETH MCLACHLAN Chair, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, UNSW (February and May)
MR GRAEME COUCH Chair, Managing Director- Couch& Associates Pty Ltd (August and November)
PROFESSOR MIKE ARCHER Dean, Faculty of Science,UNSW
MS PAM ALBANY Manager, Injury Prevention andPolicy Branch, NSW Health
MR DAVID BOWEN General Manager, Motor AccidentsAuthority
PROFESSOR CAROLINE FINCH Director, IRMRC
MR CHRIS RISSELL Health Promotion Coordinator,Illawara Area Health (February, May and August)
DR SOAMES JOB General Manager, Road SafetyStrategy, Roads and Traffic Authority
PROFESSOR BRENDON PARKER Dean, Faculty ofEngineering, UNSW
PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL Representative of theDean, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW
The activities of the IRMRC are guided by three management committees: the Board ofManagement, the Quarterly Review Committee and the Research Advisory Committee.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The Board of Management oversees the Centre's strategic directions and financial management. During 2005, the Board ofManagement comprised the following members:
Members of the Board of Management From left to right: Prof Brendon Parker (Engineering), Prof Jean Cross (SafetyScience), Prof Caroline Finch (IRMRC), Mr Graeme Couch (Chair) and Ms Pam Albany (NSW Health)
DR ANDREW HAYEN, Chair, Biostatistician, IRMRC
PROFESSOR CAROLINE FINCH, Director, IRMRC
MR KWAME ATSU, Principal Officer, Statistics -Insurance Division, Motor Accidents Authority
MR SOUFIANE BOUFOUS, Data Manager, IRMRC
MR BILL PINK, Manager Trend Analysis, Road SafetyStrategy, Roads and Traffic Authority
MR ANDREW GRAHAM, Manager Trend Analysis,Road Safety Strategy, Roads and Traffic Authority
MS PAM ALBANY, Manager, Injury Prevention andPolicy Branch, NSW Health
QUARTERLY REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Quarterly Review Committee sets policy and guidelines for the management of, and access to, the Centre's data resources.During 2005, the Committee comprised the following members:
Members of the Quarterly Review Committee From left to right: Mr Kwame Atsu (MAA), Prof CarolineFinch (IRMRC), Mr Soufiane Boufous (IRMRC)
09
IRM
RC
Ma
na
ge
me
nt C
om
mitte
es
“The
act
iviti
es o
f the
IRM
RC
are
gui
ded
by th
ree
man
agem
ent c
omm
ittee
s ”
PROFESSOR CAROLINE FINCH Chair, Director, IRMRC
MR KWAME ATSU Principal Officer, Statistics -Insurance Division, Motor Accidents Authority (May)
MS AARTHI AYYAR Biostatisticial Trainee, IRMRC(February and May)
MR SOUFIANE BOUFOUS Data Manager, IRMRC
PROFESSOR WILLIAM DUNSMUIR School ofMathematics, UNSW
MS PAM ALBANY Manager, Injury Prevention andPolicy Branch, NSW Health
MR ANDREW GRAHAM Manager, Trend Analysis, RoadSafety Strategy, Roads and Traffic Authority
PROFESSOR MARK STEVENSON Director, InjuryPrevention and Trauma Care Program, The GeorgeInstitute for International Health
A/PROFESSOR ANN WILLIAMSON Deputy Director,IRMRC
MS SANJA LUJIC Biostatistical Trainee, IRMRC (May)
RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEEThe Research Advisory Committee provides advice to the Board about the research directions of the Centre. In 2005, theCommittee comprised the following members:
Members of the Research Advisory Committee From left to right: Front Row: Prof Caroline Finch, Dr Berman Kayis, A/Prof AnnWilliamson, Dr Karen Zwi Back Row: Dr Soames Job, Prof William Dunsmuir,A/Prof Stephen Lord (Chair), Prof John Langley, Prof Jean Cross.
A/PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD Chair, Prince of WalesMedical Research Institute, UNSW
PROFESSOR RICHARD BRYANT School of Psychology,UNSW
PROFESSOR JEAN CROSS School of Safety Science,UNSW
PROFESSOR WILLIAM DUNSMUIR School ofMathematics, UNSW
PROFESSOR CAROLINE FINCH Director, IRMRC
DR SOAMES JOB General Manager, Road SafetyStrategy, Roads and Traffic Authority
DR BERMAN KAYIS School of Mechanical andManufacturing Engineering, UNSW
PROFESSOR JOHN LANGLEY Injury PreventionResearch Unit, University of Otago, New Zealand
A/PROFESSOR ANN WILLIAMSON Deputy Director,IRMRC, UNSW
DR KAREN ZWI School of Women's and Children'sHealth, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW
DATA LINKAGE PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEEIn addition to the Management Committees, the IRMRC established a Project Advisory Committee for its major data project.This Project Advisory Committee provided expert advice on issues relating to data linkage of hospital admissions records andpolice crash records. In 2005, the Committee comprised the following members:
Members of the Data Linkage Project Advisory Committee From left to right: Prof William Dunsmuir, Mr Kwame Atsu, Prof Caroline Finch, MrSoufiane Boufous, Ms Aarthi Ayyar, Prof Mark Stevenson, A/Prof Ann Williamson
10
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
DATA SYSTEMS AND STATISTICALANALYSIS
A major role of the IRMRC is to analyse and reporton population-level data relating to injuryoccurrence and injury risk management in NewSouth Wales. It does this through its own researchactivities, as well as through providing a dataservice for interested agencies.
The IRMRC provides a free "data analysis andadvice" service to its funding partners and theirapproved agencies. This service is also available toother agencies on a fee for service basis. Thisservice includes the analysis of various datasets,provision of research advice, provision of dataquality advice, review of documents, and conduct ofliterature reviews.
Information can be provided on a wide range ofissues including different mechanisms of injury (e.g.road traffic crashes, falls, violence, etc), variouspopulation groups (e.g. children, older people andthose from non-English background, etc) anddifferent locations of occurrence (e.g. on the road, athome and in the workplace, etc).
The Centre has a stringent policy on dataconfidentiality and privacy, a policy in line with thelegislative requirements, UNSW policy and thedemands of the owners of the datasets. In particular,where the information from the NSW HealthInpatient Statistical Collection is sought, access iscoordinated through the Injury Prevention andPolicy Branch of NSW Health.
11
Ce
ntr
e A
ctiv
ities
Data Systems and Statistical Analysis
The Centre has custodianship of a number ofNSW population databases, including the NSWInpatient Statistical Collection, NSW TrafficAccident Database System, MAA Claims Registerand Statistical Database and claims data fromWorkCover NSW. The Centre undertakes datamining and statistical analysis of these securedata for the core funding partners, the Centre'sown research program and as a service forapproved agencies on approved matters.
Research Streams
The other research activities of the NSW InjuryRisk Management Research Centre are organisedinto four Project Streams and cover the areas of:
Epidemiology and Injury Surveillance
Road Safety
Sport and Active Recreation Injury
Work Related Injury.
Training and Capacity Building
Not only does the Centre mentor and supervisepost-graduate research students, it also provideswork placements for NSW Health public healthand biostatistical trainees for periods of up totwelve months. These placements are quitesought after and the program is to be expanded.In 2005 there were four placements at theCentre.
Teaching and Seminars
Although the Centre's primary purpose is toconduct research, the Centre also conducts acourse in injury risk management that is offeredthrough the School of Safety Science. As thecourses are multidisciplinary in focus andinvolve lecturers from Engineering, Medicineand Science, students are attracted from a widerange of disciplines.
From time to time, the Centre also offers shortand continuing education courses on a range ofissues relevant to injury risk management. TheCentre has hosted guest speakers and isrepresented in the organising committee of the2006 Australian Injury Prevention Networkconference, to be held at UNSW. It isanticipated that the Centre will increase itsactivities in this area over the next few years.
Translating Research into Policy and
Practice
Researchers at the Centre are actively involvedin the policy development process and thetranslation of research into policy. Staffparticipated in a number of key policy forums in2005, such as the Elderly Falls Forum and theProductivity Commission's Forum on theReview of the Australian Consumer ProductSafety System. The IRMRC was the lead agencyin articulating the injury perspective for NSWHealth's Futures Planning process, commencedin 2005. In March, the Centre conducted aworkshop on Injury Futures Planning whichincluded representatives from a number of NSWgovernment agencies (RTA, MAA, WorkCover,Fair Trading and Tourism, Sport and Recreation),as well as relevant interstate agencies. An issuepaper based on the work of the forum was thenprepared and submitted to NSW Health for usein the Department's futures planning process.The Centre was also represented on the SocialDeterminants of Health Futures Planning Forum.
There were also a number of other opportunitiesin 2005 for Centre researchers to promote theinclusion of their research findings in a varietyof policy development contexts. Staff wereinvited to speak at forums as diverse as the NSWInjury Prevention Network, the NSW Child andAdolescent Injury Prevention Symposium held atthe NSW Parliament House, and the launch of aroad safety advertising campaign for youngdrivers by Bankstown Team Phoenix.
The effort to move sound research findings intopolicy and practice was furthered by thepublication of letters and editorials as well asactive membership of committee, panels,working parties within the injury preventionarea.
“Not
onl
y do
es th
e C
entr
e m
ento
r an
d su
perv
ise
post
-gra
duat
e re
sear
ch s
tude
nts,
it a
lso
prov
ides
wor
kpl
acem
ents
for
NSW
Hea
lth p
ublic
hea
lth a
nd b
iost
atis
tical
trai
nees
for
peri
ods
of u
p to
twel
ve m
onth
s. ”
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INJURY
SURVEILLANCE
UNDERSTANDING ROAD CRASH DATA
BETTER - FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
THE LIKELIHOOD OF HOSPITALISATION
RECORDS MATCHING POLICE CRASH
REPORTS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Soufiane Boufous, Sanja Lujic (NSW HealthBiostatistical Trainee), Caroline Finch,Andrew Hayen
COLLABORATORS
William Dunsmuir (School of Mathematics,UNSW)
FUNDING
2004-2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
It has become increasingly common to linkcomplementary data sources to enhance thevalue of motor transport injury databases.The aims of the project were to examine theextent to which a linkage of hospitaldischarge data with police crash records isuseful for describing road crashes; todetermine how well "true" matched cases arecorrectly linked; and to identify factorsassociated with an increased likelihood ofbeing matched. Hospital separation recordsfor the period 1 July 2000-30 June 2001,inclusive, were linked to police crash recordsfor the same period using probabilistic recordlinkage techniques. Multivariate logisticregression techniques were used to identifyfactors independently associated with linkagerates. The most significant factorscontributing to the likelihood of linkage werefound to be occupant type (eg motor vehiclecontrollers), payment status (eg cases entitledto financial compensation) and principaldiagnosis of injury variables. Interpretation ofresultant road crash analyses of linked dataneed to take into account potential biasesassociated with differential matching ratesacross variables of interest.
ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN HOSPITALISED
PELVIC FRACTURES IN OLDER PERSONS
IN NSW OVER THE PAST DECADE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Soufiane Boufous, Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Stephen Lord (Prince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute), Jacqueline Close (Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute)
FUNDING
2004-2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
Despite their significant health burden,epidemiological information regarding pelvicfractures is scarce. This study examined trendsin admission for pelvic fractures to acutehospitals in New South Wales, Australia,between July 1998 and June 2000. Over thisperiod, both the number of admissions andage-specific rates of admissions, for pelvicfracture among those aged 50+ aged yearswere found to have increased in both menand women. Whilst the number andproportion of transport related pelvic fracturesdeclined, those associated with falls increasedsignificantly over the 12-year-period. Falls areincreasingly becoming the single mostimportant cause of pelvic injuries in olderpeople, suggesting that preventive measuresaimed at reducing the risk of falls need to bepursued.
12
IRM
RC
AN
NU
ALR
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ep
ide
mio
log
y a
nd
In
jury S
urve
illa
nc
e
During 2005, the IRMRC staff wereinvolved in a range of other researchprojects across the following broadareas:
> Epidemiology and Injury Surveillance
> Road Safety
> Sports and Recreational Injury
> Work-related Injury
In this section we provide a brief summary of eachproject, including the research collaborators andfunding received during 2005.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INJURY EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH TEAMFrom left to right: Dr Andrew Hayen, Mr Soufiane Boufous, Prof Caroline
Finch, Ms Rebecca Mitchell, Ms Melissa Irwin, Ms Robyn Turner
13
ESTIMATING THE INCIDENCE OF
HOSPITALISED INJURIOUS FALLS:
IMPACT OF VARYING CASE DEFINITIONS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Soufiane Boufous, Caroline Finch
FUNDING
2004-2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
In the absence of unique personal identifiersin hospital admissions datasets, previousstudies have used different approaches toidentifying incident cases (first admissions) ofhospitalised injurious falls. These approacheshave included the exclusion of "readmissionwithin 28 days" cases, "transfers" admissionsto "non-acute hospitals" and "day only"admissions. The aim of this study was toexamine the validity, as well as the impact, ofdifferent approaches on incidence estimatesof hospitalised falls. When comparing theperformance of different approaches toidentifying first admissions, to that of the datalinkage "gold standard", the "transfer from"variable performed best in identifying firstadmissions in terms of sensitivity andspecificity. However, all the approaches haverelatively low specificity raising questionsabout their use. The introduction of a UniquePatient Identifier and the data of injury inhospital discharge datasets would provide amore accurate picture of incident cases offall-related hospitalisations.
RECORD LINKAGE: A TOOL FOR INJURY
PREVENTION RESEARCH
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Soufiane Boufous, Caroline Finch
FUNDING
2004-2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
Traditionally, much record linkage hasfocused on cancer research before beinggradually applied to various areas of publichealth. Application of record linkagetechniques to injury prevention research hasonly been a fairly recent development. Thestudy assessed the importance of recordlinkage for injury research and reviewedprevious applications in this area. It alsoexamined some of the specific practical andprivacy issues that present challenges to thelinkage of data for injury prevention andcontrol. Suggestions regarding steps that needto be taken to improve the quality and easeof undertaking data linkage for injuryresearch were developed.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HOSPITALISED
WRIST FRACTURES IN OLDER PEOPLE,
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Soufiane Boufous, Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Stephen Lord (Prince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute), Jacqueline Close (Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute); ToddGothelf (Prince of Wales Hospital); Bill Walsh(Surgical Training and Orthopaedic ResearchLaboratory, Prince of Wales Hospital)
FUNDING
2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
Wrist fractures are a common injury in olderpeople. The epidemiology and trends in wristfracture admissions to public and privateacute hospitals in New South Wales,Australia, between July 1993 and June 2003,were examined using routinely collectedhospital separations statistics. Over the studyperiod, the number of hospital separations forwrist fractures increase in both men andwomen. A significant increase in age-specificand age-standardised hospitalisation rates forwrist fractures was also observed. While themajority of wrist fractures were due to falls,the proportion of falls-related wrist fracturesdecreased significantly over time. Thisdecrease was more pronounced in males andwas accompanied by a rise in proportion ofwrist fractures resulting from high energymechanisms such as transport, violence andmachinery-related incidents. The difference inhospitalised wrist fracture rates between menand women could not be explained solely onthe basis of the role played by osteoporosis,indicating the need for more research toimprove our understanding of the underlyingfactors of this type of fracture in older people.
“The
intr
oduc
tion
of a
Uni
que
Patie
nt Id
entif
ier
and
the
date
of i
njur
y in
hos
pita
l dis
char
geda
tase
ts w
ould
pro
vide
a m
ore
accu
rate
pic
ture
of i
ncid
ent c
ases
of f
all-
rela
ted
hosp
itals
iatio
ns.”
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - E
pid
em
iolo
gy a
nd
Inju
ry S
urve
illan
ce
14
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ep
ide
mio
log
y a
nd
In
jury S
urve
illa
nc
e EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INJURY
SURVEILLANCE continued
THE TRIAGE INJURY SURVEILLANCE
PROJECT
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Andrew Marich (NSW Public Health OfficerTraining Program), Caroline Finch
FUNDING
2004-2005, NSW Health (Total budget: $ 78,000.Funding received in 2005: $16,513)
SUMMARY
This project developed and trialled an injurysurveillance system for use in hospital emergencydepartments. A particular focus was on theassessment of the utility of the routine collectionof narrative by triage nurses in EmergencyDepartments. Feedback from the triage injurysurveillance system was also fed back to thedevelopers of NSW Health's Public Health Real-Time Emergency Department Surveillance System,to assist in its ongoing application in the injurysetting.
INVESTIGATION OF CORONIAL DATA
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Melissa Irwin (NSW Public Health OfficerTraining Program), Andrew Hayen, Caroline Finch
FUNDING
2005-2006, NSW Health (same budget as theTriage project above)
SUMMARY
Coronial data have the potential to provide a richsource of information about fatal injury. The aimsof this project were to assess the usefulness of theNational Coroners Information System, forcontributing information to the epidemiologicalprofile on injuries in the state, as well as moredetailed information about mechanism of injury.
NSW INJURY HOSPITALISATION PROFILE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORSAndrew Hayen, Rebecca MitchellFUNDING2005-2006, Core funding
SUMMARYAlmost all serious non-fatal injuries lead tohospitalisation. A review of injury hospitalisationsof NSW residents in the period of 1989-1990 to2003-04 was undertaken. The aims of this projectwere to examine the leading cause of injuryhospitalisation and to describe trends inhospitalised injury in NSW. Data analysis andwriting of the report was conducted in 2005. Thereport would be launched in 2006.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND VIOLENCE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Anthony Zwi (School of Public Health andCommunity Medicine, UNSW), Alison Rutherford(School of Public Health and CommunityMedicine). The project was directed by Prof Zwiand his team at the School of Public Health andCommunity Medicine.
FUNDING
2004-2005, NSW Health (Total budget: $50,000.No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
This project explored possibilities for linking workof population health with other sectors involvedin the prevention, management and monitoring ofviolence and crime. In doing so, it describedfuture initiatives aimed at improving quality ofhealth data and recommended a future workprogram for the NSW Health Injury PolicyBranch. This involved mapping current actors,activities and gaps in violence prevention;identifying data sources, trends and gaps; andidentifying the role of the health sector inviolence prevention. Twenty-two interviews wereconducted with thirty-one key stakeholders ingovernment and non-government organisations inthe health, community, criminology, police andother sectors; nine custodians of routine datacollections managed within NSW Health werealso surveyed.
DEVELOPMENT OF FALLS INJURY RISK
PROJECTION, INDICATORS AND AN
EVALUATION PLAN
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch, Annaliese Dowling
FUNDING
2005, NSW Health (Total budget: $87,000.Funding received in 2005: $87,000)
SUMMARY
The aim of this project was to provide falls injuryrisk projection estimates and other indicatorsagainst which NSW Health could monitor theimpact of its Falls Policy. An update of fallsresearch occurring in Australia and a five yearAustralian literature review was prepared anddisseminated. A three-year research strategyhighlighting research priorities was alsodeveloped for NSW Health. NSW Fall InjuryIndicators were developed to track the trends inthe incidence of fall injuries in people over 65years of age. These indicators have been designedto be used at the Area Health Service and Statelevels.
15
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - R
oa
d S
afte
y“E
arly
res
ults
of t
he s
urve
ys s
ugge
st th
at d
rive
r fa
tigue
isin
deed
a s
afet
y is
sue
in th
e lig
ht a
nd s
hort
hau
l tra
nspo
rt s
ecto
r an
dth
at w
orkp
lace
follo
w-u
p st
udie
s ar
e w
arra
nted
.”
ROAD SAFETY
FATIGUE IN THE LIGHT TRUCKING
SECTOR
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson, Rena Friswell
COLLABORATORS
Anne-Marie Feyer (Pricewaterhouse Coopers)
FUNDING
2003-2006, Australian Research CouncilLinkage grant (funding partners: MotorAccidents Authority, National Road TransportCommission, Australian Transport SafetyBureau, the National Occupational Healthand Safety Commission) (Total budget:$285,585. Funding received in 2005:$72,436)
SUMMARY
Although there is a substantial body ofresearch investigating driver fatigue as anoccupational safety issue for long distanceheavy vehicle drivers, virtually noinformation is available about fatigueexperiences of light truck and short hauldrivers. Because light commercial vehiclescomprise about 15% of the motorised fleet inNSW and because driver fatigue is thought tobe involved in a similar proportion of lighttruck and heavy vehicle crashes, empiricaldata on the extent and causes of fatigueamong light truck drivers is sorely needed.The aims of this project were to gatherexploratory self-report data on workpractices, fatigue and other occupationalhealth and safety hazards confronting lighttruck and van drivers in NSW and to validate
these exploratory findings in the workplace. InPhase One of the project which was carriedout in 2005, light truck and van drivers andrepresentatives of companies engaged in lighttransport across NSW were surveyed. Resultsof the surveys suggest that driver fatigue isindeed a safety issue in the light and shorthaul transport sector and that workplacefollow-up studies are warranted.
RISK PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND
BEHAVIOURS REGARDING DRIVER
FATIGUE IN NSW YOUTH: THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EVIDENCE-BASED
DRIVER FATIGUE EDUCATIONAL
INTERVENTION STRATEGY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Susanne Murphy
COLLABORATORS
Nadine Kasparian (Prince of Wales Hospitaland Westmead Institute for Cancer Research),RF Soames Job (Roads and Traffic Authority)
FUNDING
2004-2006, Motor Accidents Authority (Totalbudget: $33,516. Funding received in 2005:$14,093)
SUMMARY
Driver fatigue is a major contributor to roadtrauma, and young drivers are over-represented in fatigue-related crashes.Nonetheless the evidence-base for targetedinterventions is lacking. The aims of thisproject were to collect information fromyoung drivers regarding their beliefs, attitudes,and behaviours in relation to driving whilstfatigued; design anti-fatigue messagesspecifically targeting young drivers; andevaluate these anti-fatigue messages in termsof beliefs, attitudes, and intended behaviour.In 2005, we completed the field survey datacollection, and submitted draft and finalreports. The pamphlet that was developedduring this research program is an importantoutcome of this work.
16
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ro
ad
Sa
fte
y
ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH TEAM From left to right: Ms Rena Friswell, A/Prof Ann Williamson, Ms Naomi Dunn,
Dr Susanne Murphy, Mr Tim Chamberlain, Dr Julie Hatfield, Dr Wei Du
17
TIME OF DAY, TIME AWAKE AND
ALCOHOL: THE EFFECTS ON FATIGUE
AND PERFORMANCE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
FUNDING
2005-2006, ARC Discovery Grant (Totalbudget: $117,415. Funding received in 2005:$117,415)
SUMMARY
Previous studies have shown that around 18hours without sleep produces performancedeficits equivalent to a blood alcohol at thelegal limit for driving (0.05% blood alcoholcontent). All these studies, however, wereconfounded time awake and time of day sothat the sleep deprivation effects occurred inthe midnight to 6am period which coincideswith the lowest point in the body clock whenperformance capacity is low anyway. Thisproject will attempt to disentangle the effectsof time of day and time awake and validatethese effects using doses of alcohol, up totwice the legal limit for driving.
DATA MATCHING PROJECT OF WORK
RELATED DRIVER FATIGUE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson, Soufiane Boufous
FUNDING
2004-2005, Roads Traffic Authority (Totalbudget: $38,260. Funding received in 2005:$22,956)
SUMMARY
The aim of this project was to examine thecharacteristics of work-related traffic crashesinvolving drivers in New South Wales (NSW),Australia and to investigate fatigueinvolvement in these types of crashes.Probabilistic data record linkage was used tomerge police crash records and workerscompensation data for the period 1998-2002.The findings indicated that fatigue involvedcrashes were more likely to result in fatalityand incur higher costs than crashes notinvolving fatigue, especially if the crashoccurred on country roads. The study showsno significant difference in the proportion offatigue-related cases between on-duty andcommuting crashes and highlighted the needto further investigate the factors associatedwith fatigue in commuters. This projectdemonstrated the value of record linkagetechniques in addressing some of thelimitations of work-related data systems andin providing a more complete picture of thecircumstances of occupational traffic crashes.
“...a
roun
d 18
hou
rs w
ithou
t sle
ep p
rodu
ces
perf
orm
ance
def
icits
equ
ival
ent t
o a
bloo
dal
coho
l at t
he le
gal l
imit
for
driv
ing
(0.0
5%bl
ood
alco
hol c
onte
nt).”
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - R
oa
d S
afte
y
NEW SOUTH WALES YOUNG DRIVERS'
COHORT STUDY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
COLLABORATORS
Robyn Norton (The George Institute forInternational Health), Mark Stevenson (TheGeorge Institute for International Health),Mark Woodward (The George Institute forInternational Health), Maurice Eisenbruch(School of Public Health and CommunityMedicine, UNSW), Don Carseldine (Roadsand Traffic Authority). This project is led bythe George Institute for International Health.
FUNDING
2000-2006, NSW Roads and Traffic Authority(No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
Road safety statistics show that young driversare over-represented in serious crashes. Thiscollaborative study, being led by the GeorgeInstitute aims to determine the specific riskfactors for serious injury and death outcomesin young drivers. This is a prospective cohortstudy of young drivers aged 17 to 24,involving mail-outs of invitations to completea study questionnaire on-line or via a mailedquestionnaire. The baseline data collectioninvolved a questionnaire covering drivertraining, risk perception, driver behaviour,sensation seeking behaviour and mentalhealth. Participants gave consent forprospective data linkage to their licensing,crash, and injury data held routinelycollected databases. Just over 20,000individuals completed the baselinequestionnaire. A one-year follow-upquestionnaire was sent out to around onequarter of the baseline study sample. Thestudy should assist in obtaining a betterunderstanding of the risk factors for youngdriver crashes and should lead to better andmore targeted interventions to reduce youngdriver crash risk.
PSYCHOSTIMULANT USE IN LONG
DISTANCE ROAD TRANSPORT
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
FUNDING
2004-2005, NSW Health (Total budget:$75,000. Funding received in 2005: $55,000)
SUMMARY
Divergent claims about the extent ofpsychostimulant use among long distanceheavy vehicle drivers have appeared in thescientific literature and popular press. Theaims of this project were to survey longdistance heavy vehicle drivers directly abouttheir experiences of drug use and to identifycharacteristics of drivers' work that areassociated with drug use. Anonymous surveyswere distributed to drivers at truck stops onmajor highways in NSW in 2005. The resultsindicate that work practices known toengender fatigue, including pay systems,predict drug taking among drivers. The resultshave clear implications for policy andpractice which aim to reduce occupationaldrug use and the health and safety risks itposes for drivers and other road users.
RISK TAKING ATTITUDES OF YOUNG
NSW DRIVERS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Ralston Fernandes
COLLABORATORS
Soames Job (Roads and Traffic Authority)
FUNDING
2003-2006, Motor Accidents Authority (Totalbudget: $39,931. No funding received in2005)
SUMMARY
Risky driving is a major contributor to roadtrauma, particularly for young drivers, whoare over-represented in crash statistics.Different risky driving behaviours have beenexplained in terms of a range factors thatinfluence health-relevant behaviours, withoutany attempt to identify the profile of factorsthat are relevant to specific risky drivingbehaviours. The aims of this project were toidentify factors which are relevant tospeeding, drink driving, driving while fatiguedand non-use of restraint amongst youngdrivers; and to validate self-reported attitudesagainst the Implicit Attitudes computer Task.
18
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ro
ad
Sa
fte
y
19
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MESSAGES AND
EXPERIENCES TO REDUCE ROAD-
RELATED ILLUSORY INVULNERABILITY
AND RISKY DRIVING, FOR SCHOOL
AGED CHILDREN AND YOUNG DRIVERS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield
COLLABORATORS
Soames Job (Roads and Traffic Authority),Beryl Hesketh (University of Sydney), WendyJoung (University of Sydney)
FUNDING
2001-2005, Motor Accidents Authority (Totalbudget: $51,094. Funding received in 2005:$30,844)
SUMMARY
The over representation of young people inroad crash statistics is likely to owe partly tomisperception of risk and risky driving. Thisproject aimed to develop and evaluatematerials to improve risk perception, riskydriving, and road-trauma involvementamongst young people. In 2005, wecompleted data collection in a learner driversample. The pamphlet that was developedduring this research program is an importantoutcome of this work.
IMPLICIT ATTITUDES AND SIMULATED
DRIVING BEHAVIOUR
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Ralston FernandesCOLLABORATORSGavin Faunce (University of Sydney)FUNDING2004-2005, Australian Transport SafetyBureau (Total budget: $22,342. No fundingreceived in 2005)SUMMARYSpeeding is a substantial contributor towardroad trauma, and yet research regardingattitudes which influence speeding relies onself-report measures that may be subject tosocial desirability bias. The aims of this studywere to assess implicit attitudes towardsspeeding (employing the computer-basedImplicit Association Test) and theirrelationship to self-reported attitudes, self-reported behaviour, and simulated drivingbehaviour. In addition, the aim is to developan intervention to improve speeding-relatedattitudes (both implicit and explicit) andsimulated behaviour.
EVALUATION OF PROFILE LINE MARKING
AS A ROAD SAFETY COUNTERMEASURE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Susanne Murphy
COLLABORATORS
Soames Job (Roads and Traffic Authority)
FUNDING
2004-2006, Australian Research CouncilLinkage Grant (funding partner: Roads andTraffic Authority) (Total budget: $107,078.Funding received in 2005: $51,731)
SUMMARY
Profile Line-Marking (PLM) aims to reducefatigue-related crashes by alerting driverswhen they begin veering off the road.Substantial stretches are laid annuallyAustralia-wide, although evaluation of PLMhas been unsophisticated or flawed. The aimsof this project are to improve understandingof PLM impacts by investigatingbeliefs/attitudes regarding PLM (e.g. "PLMdamages cars"); whether road-edge PLMincreases head-on crashes; the efficacy ofPLM with more widely spaced "ribs" with andwithout separate raised pavement markers;and underlying mechanisms (e.g. reducingfatigue, increasing visibility during night/wet)in order to improve the efficacy and efficiencyof PLM use.
"...n
ight
dri
ving
may
not
hav
e an
y cl
ear
diffe
rent
ial e
ffect
s on
per
form
ance
whe
n co
mpa
red
to d
ay d
rivi
ngin
eith
er p
erm
anen
t or
rota
ting
shift
dri
vers
." N
atio
nal T
rans
port
Com
mis
sion
Med
ia R
elea
se, 1
7th
Febr
uary
200
5.
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - R
oa
d S
afte
y
THE EFFECTS OF IN-VEHICLE
AUDIOVISUAL DISPLAY UNITS ON
SIMULATED DRIVING
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Timothy Chamberlain
FUNDING
2004-2005, Roads and Traffic Authority (Totalbudget: $22,539. No funding received in2005)
SUMMARY
Installation of in-car audiovisual displays isincreasing, yet there is no evidence-base forappropriate regulation. We investigatedwhether drivers attend to audiovisual displaysin other cars, and the associated drivingimpairments. 28 participants completed 3drives on a simulator while visual materialswere presented on a display positioned asthough in a neighbouring vehicle. A differentinstruction condition operated for each drive:ignore visual materials, attend, and noinstruction. Participants also completed onedrive without visual material (control).Drivers evidenced impairment in the attendcondition relative to the control condition.For example, they decelerated more slowlywhen confronted by pedestrian, and kept alane position on a curvy road that was morevariable and further to the left of centre. In asurvey, 96% of participants reported that theirsimulator driving was at least "a little"impaired by the visual materials. 31% ofparticipants reported having seen anentertainment display in another vehicle onthe road, with 80% of these reporting thatthey had paid at least "a little" attention to thelast sighted display. These findings suggestthat audiovisual displays that are visible fromanother vehicle are likely to distract driversand impair their driving performance.
EFFECTIVENESS AND
APPROPRIATENESS OF CHILD
RESTRAINTS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Wei Du, Julie Hatfield, Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Lynne Bilston (Prince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute)
FUNDING
2005-2008, ARC, Motor Accidents Authorityand Roads and Traffic Authority (Total budget:$73,950. Funding received in 2005: $24,650)
SUMMARY
Significant numbers of children in Australiaare killed and injured each year as occupantsof motor vehicles. There is a need to definethe effectiveness of different forms ofAustralian restraint for children consideringthe impact of non-use and misuse. The aimsof this project are to develop a population-level profile of road trauma in childoccupants in NSW; characterise the types ofrestraints currently used in NSW; characteriseand quantify restraint misuse; determine thesize/weight deficiencies of existing dedicatedchild restraint and adult belt systems forAustralian children; assess the influencedeficiencies identified in crash protection;estimate the costs of injuries in children andthe cost-benefit associated with correctrestraint use. Development of the population-based profile of child road trauma hascommenced, via analysis of the hospitalseparations database. Data collection hasbeen completed for a telephone survey ofrestraint usage for children aged under 16,and data analysis is ongoing. A study tocharacterise the geometry of seatbelt andchild restraints on the market in Australia hascommenced. Planning for the third study,which involves an in-depth study of childrestraint misuse, is in its final stage.
20
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ro
ad
Sa
fte
yIR
MR
C A
NN
UA
L Repo
rt 2005
21
THE ROLE OF RISK PROPENSITY IN THE
RISKY DRIVING OF OLDER AND
YOUNGER DRIVERS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield, Ralston Fernandes
FUNDING
2005, Australian Transport Safety Bureau(Total budget: $22,095. Funding received in2005: $13,256)
SUMMARY
Risky driving is a major contributor to roadtrauma, particularly for young drivers, whoare over-represented in crash statistics.Investigation of limited experience and risk-perception skills as crash contributors haslacked appropriate consideration of risk-propensity (willingness/desire to take risks).The aims of this project are to investigateinterrelationships between aspects of risk-propensity (measured using recently-developed questionnaires), age, experience,risk-perception, and risky driving, in order toinform improved road safetycountermeasures.
A REVIEW REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF
ADVERTISING INSTALMENTS ON ROAD
SAFETY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield
FUNDING
2004-2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
Advertising instalments (e.g. advertising onstands, billboards, bus stands, buses, taxis,and other vehicles) may negatively impactroad safety in several ways, primarilythrough obstruction of the driver's view ofdriving-relevant stimuli; visual clutter andreduced conspicuity of driving-relevant signs;and driver distraction. The aims of thisproject are to review the literature relevant tothis issue and to provide the Roads andTraffic Authority with a report andrecommendations.
DEVELOPMENT OF A TESTING PROGRAM
TO CONDUCT ACOUSTIC SURVEY OF
ENGINE BRAKE NOISE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Julie Hatfield
FUNDING
2005-2006, Roads and Traffic Authority (Totalbudget: $8,836. Funding received in 2005:$4,418)
SUMMARY
The RTA has been working with the NationalTransport Commission (NTC) in thedevelopment of a regulatory approach tomanaging engine brake noise (EB) noise.There is a need to conduct a community-based survey to examine the associationbetween human reaction (includingannoyance) to record EB noise events andvarious acoustical indices calculated fromthese events (employing NTC-developedalgorithms). The aim of this project was todevelop a research design and researchmaterials for this purpose. The RTA wasprovided with a report that detailed theexperimental design-e.g. sample size andstratification, sampling techniques, stimuliselection (i.e. noise levels, noise impulsivitycharacteristics), methods for obtaining ratings,inclusion of important modifiers (i.e. noisesensitivity, attitudes to the noise source);detailed data analysis and interpretationissues-e.g. selection of an appropriatestandard based on " % highly annoyed "; andincluded survey materials-e.g. researcherinstructions, questionnaires.
“If a
dri
ver
can
see
[a m
ovie
pla
ying
] in
ano
ther
car
, doe
s th
at im
pair
thei
r dr
ivin
g? In
mos
tca
ses,
my
gues
s is
the
answ
er is
yes
.”D
r Ju
lie H
atfie
ld, D
rive
n to
dis
trac
tion?
not
the
kids
, oth
er d
rive
rs, T
he S
ydne
y M
orni
ng H
eral
d, 7
th M
arch
200
5.
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Ro
ad
Sa
ftey
22
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Sp
orts
an
d R
ec
re
ati
on
al
Inju
ry
23
“Cri
cket
is o
ne o
f Aus
tral
ia's
mos
t pop
ular
spo
rts,
bot
h in
term
s of
spe
ctat
or in
tere
st a
nd
part
icip
atio
n ra
tes.
How
ever
, par
ticip
atio
n in
cri
cket
can
be
asso
ciat
ed w
ith a
ris
k of
inju
ry. ”
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - S
po
rts
an
d R
ec
re
atio
na
l Inju
ry
SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL
INJURY
RISK FACTORS FOR REPETITIVE
MICROTRAUMA INJURY TO
ADOLESCENT AND ADULT CRICKET
FAST BOWLERS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Rebecca Dennis, Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Bruce Elliott (School of Human Movementand Exercise Science, UWA), AndrewMcIntosh (School of Safety Science, UNSW)
FUNDING
2003-2005, Cricket Australia (Total budget:$40,145. No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
Cricket is one of Australia's most popularsports, both in terms of spectator interest andparticipation rates. However, participation incricket can be associated with a risk of injury.Fast bowlers have consistently been identifiedas being at the greatest risk of injury, whichclearly establishes them as the priority groupfor continued risk factor research. The aim ofthis project was to describe the epidemiologyof repetitive microtrauma injuries and identifythe risk factors for these injuries to maleadolescent and adult fast bowlers. Theproject consisted of three prospective cohortstudies investigating bowling workload,technique and physical characteristics as riskfactors for injury, with data being collectedover the period 2000-04. Results of theproject were presented to cricketadministrators, policymakers, coaches andmedical staff in a variety of forumsthroughout the year.
Observing the bowling technique of a cricket fast bowler
SPORTS INJURY RESEARCH TEAMFrom left to right: Prof Caroline Finch, Ms Maria Romiti(not shown: Dr Shauna Sherker and Ms Rebecca Dennis)
Analysing the physical characteristics of a cricket fast bowler
24
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Sp
orts
an
d R
ec
re
ati
on
al
Inju
ry
MANAGING RETURN-TO-PLAY
DECISIONS FOLLOWING MILD
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (MTBI): A
COHORT STUDY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Mark Stevenson (The George Institute forInternational Health, University of Sydney),Michael Collins and Mark Lovell (Universityof Pittsburgh Medical Centre), Andy Lee(School of Population Health, University ofWestern Australia), Andrew McIntosh (Schoolof Safety Science, UNSW). This project is ledby the George Institute for InternationalHealth.
FUNDING
2004-2008, USA Centre for Disease Controland Prevention Grant (No funding receivedin 2005)
SUMMARY
Contact sports, such as the football codes,carry a high risk of mild traumatic headinjury (mTBI) and such injuries have thepotential for adverse long-term sequelae.Despite the potential to significantly reducethe adverse outcomes of mTBI there areconflicting guidelines about when a playershould return to play. The aims of this projectare to estimate the incidence of rugby-relatedmTBI (also known as concussion), assess therole of protective factors (such as head gearand mouthguards), and develop guidelinesfor managing return-to play decisionfollowing mTBI. During the 2005 season, thestudy recruited 1276 males aged 16 and overwho played high school or community level(non-elite) rugby within the Sydneymetropolitan area. Demographic information,potential risk factors and recent concussionhistory were collected on all players atbaseline. Selected school and club playersundertook baseline neuropsychologicaltesting and post-injury cognitive functioningwas also assessed at four time intervals.
SUBSTANCE USE AND SNOW SPORT
ACTIVITY: AN INVESTIGATION OF RISK
PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND
KNOWLEDGE
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch, Shauna Sherker
COLLABORATORS
Prof Jim Kehoe (School of Psychology,UNSW), Dr Mark Doverty (NSW SouthernArea Health Services)
FUNDING
2004-2005, NSW Southern Area HealthServices (Total budget: $30,909. No fundingreceived in 2005)
SUMMARY
The aim of this project was to investigateperceptions of snowfield resort visitors aboutinjury risk regarding alcohol, fatigue andrecreational drug use.
Visitors to a resort village in a large Australiansnowfield region completed a brief surveyabout fatigue, alcohol and recreational druguse and injury risk perception. Participantsstated their ability to ski or snowboard anddrive safely following a lack of sleep, alcoholand recreational drugs use. Intoxicatedsnowfield report visitors were compared withnon-intoxicated visitors. Safety beliefs acrosssnowsport and transport were compared.
Most participants reported that they generallyslept less than usual and 30% reported bothdrinking alcohol and using drugs more thanusual while visiting the snowfields.Participants perceived driving as a greaterinjury risk than skiing/snowboarding(p<0.001). Fatigue was perceived as arelatively weak injury risk factor, particularlywhile skiing and snowboarding.
25
“You
hav
e to
intr
oduc
e yo
urse
lf to
spo
rt, v
ery
gent
ly. P
eopl
e w
ho d
id n
ot g
et in
jure
d al
l sou
ght
prof
essi
onal
adv
ice,
had
a lo
t of c
oach
ing
for
thei
r ac
tivity
and
had
exp
erie
nce
in th
e ga
me.
The
y pa
rtic
ipat
ed in
thin
gs li
ke p
re-s
easo
n tr
aini
ng, t
o ge
t the
ir b
odie
s up
to a
bas
e le
vel o
f phy
sica
l fitn
ess
befo
re th
ey to
ok u
p co
mpe
titiv
e sp
ort.”
Pro
f Car
olin
e Fi
nch,
You
're
neve
r to
o ol
d, T
he S
ydne
y M
orni
ng H
eral
d, 2
4th
Febr
uary
200
5 Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - S
po
rts
an
d R
ec
re
atio
na
l Inju
ry
THE JUNIOR AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
SAFETY STUDY (JAFSS)
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch, Maria Romiti
COLLABORATOR
Belinda Gabbe (Department of Epidemiologyand Preventive Medicine, Monash University)
FUNDING
2004-2005, Australian Football LeagueResearch Board, NSW Sporting InjuriesCommittee, Sports and Recreation Victoria(Total budget: $69,622. Funding received in2005: $2,962)
SUMMARY
Continued growth of junior sports dependsheavily upon the level of safety associatedwith participation in any given activity. TheJunior Australian Football Safety Study (JAFSS)was designed to investigate the rates andpatterns of injury among Australian footballparticipants spanning from the U9 level ofplay through to the U18 level of play.Additionally, comparisons were made to theonly other comprehensive study of injuries injunior Australian football players, conductedover a decade ago. The project has identifiedpriority areas for injury prevention andrecommended specific game developmentstrategies, related to level of play.
REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF VICTORIAN
SPORT RISK MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Leonie Otago (School of Human Movementand Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Peter Swan (School of Human Movement andSports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Jennifer Blitvich (School of Human Movementand Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Sue Brown (School of Human Movement andSports Sciences, University of Ballarat). Thisproject is led by the University of Ballaratresearchers.
FUNDING
2004-2005, Department for VictorianCommunities (No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
This project has examined the extent to whichVictorian State Sporting Bodies havedeveloped and implemented risk managementplans. The aims were to investigate how, andto what extent, sport clubs and associationsadopted their State Sporting Association (SSA)SIRM plan into their everyday operations. Toadequately explore this, the project wasconducted in five phases: a review of SSASIRM policies for clubs, an interview with akey SSA person; the development andimplementation of a survey for clubs andassociations, and development andimplementation of a survey for clubs andassociations. Overall, the findings of the fivephases support the need for a practical SIRMprocess at club level. Generic riskmanagement protocols have their place butclubs need to know what is expected of them,and how they should implement SIRM andwhat the benefits of undertaking the practicesare.
26
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Sp
orts
an
d R
ec
re
ati
on
al
Inju
ry PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF SPORTS
INJURY RISK
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Leonie Otago (School of Human Movementand Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Michael Reynolds (School of HumanMovement and Sports Sciences, University ofBallarat), Michael Spittle (School of HumanMovement and Sports Sciences, University ofBallarat), Warren Payne (School of HumanMovement and Sports Sciences, University ofBallarat), Jack Harvey (School of HumanMovement and Sports Sciences, University ofBallarat). This project is led by the Universityof Ballarat researchers.
FUNDING
2004-2005, Victorian Health PromotionFoundation (No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
The project investigated parental perceptionsof the risk of sports injury to their children inVictoria. The project aimed to investigate theinfluence and extent of parental perceptionsof sports injury risk as a barrier to youngpeople's participation in sport. To explore theinfluence of these perceptions, the projectwas conducted in 2 phases: a quantitativesurvey of parents and a follow-upquantitative phase where selected parentswere interviewed concerning theirperceptions of sports injury risk. Overall, thefindings of both phases of the projectsupported that parents acknowledged andwere aware of the injury risk of participationin sport and between different sports.However, parental perceptions of sport injuryrisk did not appear to be strong influences ofparental actions regarding sportsparticipation.
EVALUATION OF THE SAFECLUB
TRAINING INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE
COMMUNITY SPORTS SAFETY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Shauna Sherker
COLLABORATORS
Paul Klarenaar (Northern Sydney CentralCoast Health), Kristy Abbott (YouthSafe), AlexDonaldson (Port Phillip Community Health).This project is being coordinated byYouthSafe.
FUNDING
2005-2006, NSW Sporting InjuriesCommittee, and Northern Sydney CentralCoast Health for a 12 months follow-up ofsoccer clubs (No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
Risk management plans have been identifiedas the 'best buy' in sports injury preventionhowever local research indicates that fewcommunity sports clubs have such plans, northe skills and infrastructure to develop them.The SafeClub training program wasintroduced to assist community sports clubs todevelop and implement sports safety plansusing a risk management approach and injuryprevention concepts. The aim of this study isto evaluate the effectiveness of the SafeClubtraining program as a means of enablingcommunity soccer clubs to improve theirsports safety infrastructure, policies andpractices. Baseline and post-interventionsafety infrastructure and policies weremeasured using a modified version of theSports Safety Audit Tool. Preliminary resultsindicate that there was no significantdifference at baseline between interventionand control soccer clubs regarding riskmanagement policy and infrastructure. Postseason results will be analysed in 2006. Thefindings of this innovative project will providemuch needed evidence to guide the processof supporting community sportingorganisations to adopt best practice in sportsinjury prevention.
27
“...t
he c
entr
al m
essa
ge w
as n
ot to
sto
p pl
ayin
g sp
ort b
ut to
mod
ify e
xist
ing
spor
t to
min
imis
e in
jury
”So
ufia
ne B
oufo
us, B
attle
of t
he C
odes
,The
Syd
ney
Mor
ning
Her
ald,
5th
Feb
ruar
y 20
05R
ese
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - S
po
rts
an
d R
ec
re
atio
na
l Inju
ry
BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO
COMPLIANCE WITH PLAYGROUND
SAFETY STANDARDS
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Shauna Sherker, Rebecca Dennis
COLLABORATORS
Jan Ritchie (School of Public Health andCommunity Medicine, UNSW), David Eager(Dept of Engineering, UTS)
FUNDING
2004-2005, UNSW Faculty Research Grant-Early Career Researcher (Total budget:$23,450. Funding received in 2005: $19,680)
SUMMARY
Playground related injury is a serious andcommon childhood event, resulting insubstantial trauma and treatment costs.Playground injury hospitalisation rates haveincreased, despite stringent playground safetystandards being introduced. This trendappears to be driven in part by a lack ofcompliance with playground safety standards.This study aims to identify how localgovernment enforce regulations forplayground safety. Further, will identify thebarriers and facilitators to playground safetystandard compliance in local government,and to highlight examples of best practice. Atelephone survey of key informants forplayground safety in all 152 localgovernment councils in New South WalesAustralia was undertaken in 2005. The extentof playground safety compliance bymetropolitan and non-metropolitan councils,council enforcement of regulations includinginspection and maintenance processes andbarriers and facilitators to compliance will bereported.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SEVERE
AND CATASTROPHIC SPORTS INJURIES
IN NSW
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch, Soufiane Boufous
FUNDING
2005-2007, NSW Sporting Injuries Committee(Total budget: $59,125. Funding received in2005: $39,190)
SUMMARY
The aim of this project is to examine seculartrends in severe and catastrophic sportsinjuries in New South Wales and to determinethe nature and the circumstances of thesecases. Results will be presented in the form ofthree annual reports. The objective of the firstreport is to present a baseline epidemiologicalprofile of hospitalisations and deaths relatedto participation in sport and leisure activitiesin NSW. Data on sports-related injuries wasextracted from the NSW Inpatient StatisticalCollection and the ABS death data based onthe International Classification Diseases (ICD-10) activity coding indicating injury whileengaging in sports and leisure activities. Ratesof catastrophic sports injuries will providedbased on ABS population data as well asparticipation data obtained from theParticipation in Exercise, Recreation and SportSurveys run by the Australian SportsCommission and state and territorydepartments of sports and recreation.
28
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
S
po
rts
an
d R
ec
re
ati
on
al
Inju
ry
SPORTS GROUND AND SURFACE STUDY
AND DEVELOPMENT OF USER SAFETY
GUIDELINES
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
Leonie Otago (School of Human Movementand Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Peter Swan (School of Human Movement andSports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Warren Payne (School of Human Movementand Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat),Ian Chivers Harvey (Racing Solutions,Victoria) and John Orchard (Sports MedicineCentre, NSW). This project is led by theUniversity of Ballarat researchers.
FUNDING
2005-2006, Department for VictorianCommunities (No funding received in 2005)
SUMMARY
The aim of this project is to investigate thepolicies of Victorian Local GovernmentAuthorities along with the State SportingAssociations of Football, Cricket, Hockey andSoccer in relation to sports ground safety andground suitability for play. The methodologyis a six stage process investigating currentpolicies are being adopted, includingmethods and practices at club andassociation level across metropolitan,regional and rural settings and to establishnormative data for conditions of groundsurfaces for Australian Rules Football groundsat a representative number of metropolitan,regional and rural environments.
29
"The cost was estim
ated at $16.9 billion; an average cost per incident of $118,540."
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Wo
rk-r
ela
ted
Inju
ry
30
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Wo
rk-r
ela
ted
In
jury
WORK-RELATED INJURY
ANALYSIS OF SAFETY PERFORMANCE
MEASURES OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES
MINING INDUSTRY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson, Tim Chamberlain
FUNDING
2001-2005, The NSW Department of MineralResources (Total budget: $19,578. Fundingreceived in 2005: $19,578)
SUMMARY
In addition to information on injury-relatedincidents, the NSW mining industry collectsincident information that is relevant tooccupational safety and health. Unlike otherindustry sectors where workplace health andsafety information is based exclusively onfatality and severe injury data, this additionalinformation is based on Notifiable Incidentsthat are required to be reported to thegovernment regulatory agency under a rangeof mine safety acts and regulations. The aimof this project is to provide an annual reporton the reportable incidents collected by theDepartment of Primary Industry-Minerals.The report describes the nature of incidentsand circumstances in which they occur. Thisanalysis provides a broader view of incidentsthat have both actual and potential impact onsafety and are leading to the development ofmore informed strategies to address the majorproblems in mine safety in NSW.
THE EFFECTS OF PRECARIOUS WORK
ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
COLLABORATORS
Prof Phillip Bohle and Prof Michael Quinlan(School of Organisation and Management,UNSW). This project is led by the School ofOrganisation and Management, UNSW.
FUNDING
2001-2005, Australian Research CouncilDiscovery Grant (No funding received in2005)
SUMMARY
Temporary, part time or casual work isincreasing in Australian workplace. This typeof work is often summarised as precariouswork and much has been written about thepotential impact of these types of workarrangements on occupational health andsafety. The aim of this study is to examine theeffects of precarious work on health andsafety of workers in the hospitality, call centreand road transport industries. A survey of roadtransport workers was conducted and theresults analysed. Comparison of short haultruck drivers in permanent employee, casualemployee and owner driver workarrangements showed that short haul driversworked very long hours that were similar tolong haul drivers, under arguably morecontinuously trying condition of congestedurban roads. Work-related injuries (mainlyrelated to lifting and loading and unloading)were quite common among employee driversand over a third of permanent employeedrivers reported a chronic illness (mainly backproblems and deafness) or having made aworkers' compensation claim in the past fiveyears. These findings with regard to the longhours and pressures on short haul drivers raiseimportant policy issues. In the past, theworking conditions of long haul truck driverswere seen as rather unique, requiringparticular forms of regulatory intervention (tocombat fatigue etc). Our study found that gapbetween employment and working conditionsof long haul and short haul drivers was lessthan previously imagined. This suggests thatexisting policy interventions for short hauldrivers may need to be reconsidered.
WORK-RELATED INJURY RESEARCH TEAMFrom left to right: Mr Tim Chamberlain, Ms Rena Friswell, A/Prof Ann
Williamson, Ms Naomi Dunn, Ms Mary Potter-Forbes
31
COST OF WORK RELATED INJURIES AND
ILLNESS IN NSW
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Mary Potter Forbes
COLLABORATORS
Peter Abelson (Faculty of Economics andBusiness, University of Sydney), Tim Driscoll(School of Public Health, University ofSydney)
FUNDING
2004-2005, WorkCover (Total budget:$93,120. Funding received in 2005: $93,120)
SUMMARY
The objectives of this project were toestimate the cost of compensable workrelated injury and illness occurring in NSWin 2000-2001, and to develop a resource foruse in ongoing economic evaluation ofregulatory interventions. The cost wasestimated at $16.9 billion; an average costper incident of $118,540. The estimateincluded the costs of hospitalisation, theconsumption of medical services and theadministration of the claim as well as the costof mortality and morbidity (net ofproductivity losses). A complex mappingbetween coding systems was necessary toderive the hospitalisation cost estimate. Excelspreadsheets were constructed for sensitivityanalysis and supplied to WorkCover NSW forweb-site implementation. The work wasbased on the methodology previouslydeveloped at the Centre but certainalgorithms have been refined and parametervalues updated. The approach is consistentwith that adopted by Access Economics in itswork for the National Occupation Health &Safety Commission in 2003.
PILOT SURVEY ON EMPLOYMENT TYPE,
HOURS OF WORK AND SAFETY IN NSW
MINING 2003-2004
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
FUNDING
2005, NSW Department of Primary Industry(Total budget: $15,834. Funding received in2005: $15,834)
SUMMARY
The main aims of this pilot study were todescribe the ways people are employed in theNSW mining industry, and to set a precedentfor future research. Of key interest were thetypes of employment and areas of work, hoursworked and safety outcomes for contractors inthe NSW mining industry. The analysis of thecharacteristics of contractors working in themines that returned surveys suggests a numberof important differences between contractorsand employees that need to be validated in alarger survey. Further, the results identifiedaspects that could be improved to make alarger survey more successful. The IRMRCcoordinated and hosted a Workshop ondesigning a study of employment type, hoursof work and safety in NSW mining which wasattended by mining industry representatives ofemployers, employees and government.
“Wor
k-re
late
d in
jury
is a
n im
port
ant p
ublic
hea
lth is
sue
in N
SW. T
he s
tudy
des
crib
es in
form
atio
non
sel
f-re
port
ed w
ork-
rela
ted
inju
ries
col
lect
ed a
s pa
rt o
f the
200
2 N
SW H
ealth
Sur
vey
Prog
ram
. ”
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - W
ork-r
ela
ted
Inju
ry
SELF REPORTED WORK-RELATED
INJURY AND ILLNESS IN NSW
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Rebecca Mitchell, Soufiane Boufous
FUNDING
2005, Core funding
SUMMARY
Work-related injury is an important publichealth issue in NSW. The study describesinformation on self-reported work-relatedinjuries collected as part of the 2002 NSWHealth Survey Program. A total of 15.6% ofemployed persons reported that they hadsuffered an injury or illness related to work inthe last 12 months. Males and young workerswere more likely to report experiencing awork-related injury/illness than females orolder workers. The most common injury-reported was sprains and strains of joints andadjacent muscles. Only one-quarter ofrespondents reported receiving workers'compensation for their injury/illness. Datasources from the health system are animportant source of information for work-related injury/illness. Health surveyinformation can complement other work-related injury/illness data sources andcontribute to the current knowledgeregarding the magnitude, nature and severityof work-related injury/illness in NSW.
32
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Re
se
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms -
Wo
rk-r
ela
ted
In
jury
RESEARCH ON FATIGUE MANAGEMENT
IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Ann Williamson
FUNDING
2005-2006, National Transport Commission(Total budget: $14,500. Funding received in2005: $9,500)
SUMMARY
This project involved providing expert reviewand advice to the National TransportCommission on the development of a nationalapproach to managing the risks associatedwith fatigue in Rail Safety Workers. Thisincluded attended meetings with stakeholdersleading and membership of a Fatigue ExpertGroup which led to preparation of a numberof draft proposals for fatigue management thatform the basis for a national regulatoryframework to govern this area in rail safety.
PROJECTS APPROVED FOR FUNDING IN
2005 BUT FOR WHICH RESEARCH WORK
WILL NOT COMMENCE UNTIL 2006
IRMRC staff are listed in bold in the followinglist
Finch C, Lloyd D, Elliott B. Can exercisetraining programs prevent knee injuries?NHMRC Project Grant. 2006-2009(1,065,650)
Hayen A, Sherker S. The spatial epidemiologyof playground falls in New South Wales.UNSW Faculty of Science Early CareerResearch Grant. 2006 ($18,747)
McIntosh A, Williamson A. Rail safety andreliability: a human factors and ergonomicsapproach. 2006-2008. ($ 381,207) (to beadministered through the School of SafetyScience).
Poulos R, Rutherford A, Zwi A, Finch C,Hayen A, Moore H, Zwi K, Comino E. Thespatial distribution of childhood injurymorbidity and morality in NSW. UNSWFaculty of Medicine Research Grant. 2006($26,518) (to be administered through Schoolof Public Health and Community Medicine)
33
PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINEE FELLOWSHIP
ON CORONIAL AND EMERGENCY DATA
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
FUNDING
2005-2006, NSW Health
SUMMARY
Melissa Irwin began a six month placementas a Public Health Officer at the IRMRC inDecember 2005. She is examining at theusefulness of the National CoronersInformation System for injury surveillance.She will also negotiate access to NCIS onbehalf of the Centre.
BIOSTATISTICAL APPROACHES FOR
INJURY DATA
CENTRE INVESTIGATORS
Caroline Finch
COLLABORATORS
William Dunsmuir (School of Mathematics,UNSW)
FUNDING
2004-2007, NSW Health
SUMMARY
Our second Biostatistical Officer (Sanja Lujic)commenced her placement with the Centrein February. Sanja assessed the quality of thelinkage hospitalisation separations withpolice crash records in terms of the matchingrate and identifying groups that did/did notmatch well.
Robin Turner has commenced asBiostatistical officer for a 12 monthplacement in September. Her work isfocussing on developing methodologies toanalyse spatio-temporal count data, withexamples drawn from hip fractures in olderpeople.
“San
ja a
sses
sed
the
qual
ity o
f the
link
age
hosp
italis
atio
n se
para
tions
with
pol
ice
cras
h re
cord
sin
term
s of
the
mat
chin
g ra
te a
nd id
entif
ying
gro
ups
that
did
/did
not
mat
ch w
ell.
”T
ra
inin
g a
nd
Ca
pa
city
Bu
ildin
g
SHORT COURSE
In 2005, the IRMRC delivered an innovativecourse on injury prevention focusing on abroad multidisciplinary approach to riskmanagement. The objective of the course wasto explore concepts in injury riskmanagement with particular emphasis onunderstanding how injury occurs and howinjury differs from other public healthproblems. The course covered:
> What is injury? The size of the problemsand different ways of counting injury.
> Introduction to the concepts of risk, riskassessment and risk management. Qualityand safety, hazards and risks and the roleof risk perception.
> Theories and approaches to injurycausation. Public health, road safety andrisk management theories of injurycausation.
> Injury surveillance including sources ofinjury data, injury coding andclassification and introduces ICD codingof injury mechanism, nature and agencyas well as the limitations of populationdatabases.
> Approaches to injury prevention policyand intervention and the role ofregulation.
> Introduction to human factors and injury.
> Injury risk management in the real world.
The course was conducted over fiveconsecutive days in July and 14 studentswere enrolled in it. The course is universityaccredited, counting as six units of credittowards postgraduate qualifications. It wasalso offered as a non-award programme fornon-UNSW students.
34
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Te
ac
hin
g a
nd
Se
min
ar
SEMINAR
Dr Wendy Watson - Monash UniversityAccident Research Centre, November2005 "Are population-based burden ofinjury measures valid for priority setting?"
Wendy completed her PhD on aninvestigation into population-basedmeasures of health status or health-related quality of life to establish whethercurrent measures have concurrent andpredictive validity when used to measurethe burden of injury. She presented themethodology and results of her work tothe IRMRC staff and invited guests.
35
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY FORUMS
ATTENDED
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
> Attended Injury Futures Planning Forumon 14th March 2005.
> Attended the Elderly Falls Forum meetingon 4th May 2005.
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
> Ran workshop for Performance MeasureTask group of the NSW Mine SafetyAdvisory Committee meeting on 21st
February, 6th May and 19th October 2005.
> Attended Injury Futures Planning Forumon 14th March 2005.
> Attended the Child Fatalities and Injuriesin Driveways Project Steering CommitteeMeeting on 19th May 2005.
> Attended meeting at MAA on developmentof Child Safety Strategy on 13th October2005.
> Attended Productivity Commission Forumon research issues relevant to the Reviewof Australian Consumer Product SafetySystem, Canberra, 14th October 2005.
> Attended workshop on development ofchild road safety policy for MAA on 23rd
November 2005.
ANNALIESE DOWLING
> Attended the Elderly Falls Forum meetingon 4th May 2005.
> Attended the 4th ANZAC ResearchInstitute Symposium on Ageing-NucleicAids to National Policy on 4th November2005.
DR ANDREW HAYEN
> Attended the Injury Futures PlanningForum on 14th March 2005.
DR REBECCA MITCHELL
> Attended the National CoronialInformation Advisory Group meeting on 9th
June 2005.
> Attended NSW Child and AdolescentInjury Prevention Symposium 2005,Parliament House, 29th November 2005.
MARY POTTER FORBES
> Attended the Injury Futures PlanningForum on 14th March 2005.
> Attended the Social Determinants ofHealth Futures Planning Forum on 14th
March 2005.
> Attended Productivity Commission Forumon research issues relevant to the Reviewof Australian Consumer Product SafetySystem, Canberra, 14th October 2005.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS AT POLICY
FORUMS
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
> The Injury Risk Management ResearchCentre: its role in injury preventionleadership. NSW Injury PreventionNetwork Meeting, 17-18th March 2005.(Invited talk)
> A system approach to Child andAdolescent Injury Prevention. NSW Childand Adolescent Injury PreventionSymposium 2005, Parliament House, 29th
November 2005. (Invited talk)
“It i
s tim
e fo
r th
e he
alth
sec
tor
to p
rope
rly
reco
gnis
e ch
ild in
jury
as
a cr
itica
l iss
ue fo
r th
eon
goin
g he
alth
of A
ustr
alia
n ch
ildre
n an
d to
form
ally
com
mit
to a
ppro
pria
te p
reve
ntiv
e ac
tions
”Pr
of C
arol
ine
Finc
h, L
ette
r to
Edi
tor,
Med
ical
Jour
nal o
f Aus
tral
ia, 1
5th
Aug
ust 2
005
Tra
nsla
ting
Re
se
arc
h in
to P
olic
y a
nd
Pra
ctic
e
Injury Futures Planning Project Forum, UNSW, 14th March 2005
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
> Payment by results, fatigue and drug usein the long distance road transportindustry. Changing industries, IndustrialRelations, Occupational Safety and Healthand the Role of Work Organisation andEconomic Competition at Labor andEmployment Relations AssociationsAnnual Meeting, Philadelphia, USA, 6-8th
January 2005. (Invited talk)
> Introduction to injury risk management.NSW Injury Prevention Network Meeting,17-18th March 2005. (Invited talk)
> Injury monitoring and prevention: Roadsafety research at the IRMRC. NSW InjuryPrevention Network Meeting, 17-18th
March 2005. (Invited talk)
> Why are we worrying about youngdrivers? Launch of XRoads, a road safetyadvertisement for young drivers developedby Bankstown Team Phoenix, YouthAdvisory Group, 14th November 2005.(Invited talk)
SOUFIANE BOUFOUS
> Data linkage of road and Hospital data:what does it tell us? NSW InjuryPrevention Network Meeting, 17-18th
March 2005. (Invited talk)
DR JULIE HATFIELD
> Project for safer people and safer roads.NSW Injury Prevention Network Meeting,17-18th March 2005. (Invited talk)
DR ANDREW HAYEN
> Injury hospitalisation in NSW: a fourthinjury profile for NSW. NSW InjuryPrevention Network Meeting, 17-18th
March 2005. (Invited talk)
> A statistical overview to Child andAdolescent Injury Prevention. NSW Childand Adolescent Injury PreventionSymposium 2005, Parliament House, 29th
November 2005. (Invited talk)
DR ANDREW MARICH
> The Triage Injury Surveillance Project.NSW Injury Prevention Network Meeting,17-18th March 2005. (Invited talk)
DR SHAUNA SHERKER
> Slippery slopes: injury risk perceptions ofskiers and snowboarders regarding alcohol,fatigue and drug use. NSW InjuryPrevention Network Meeting, 17-18th
March 2005. (Invited talk)
STAFF MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES,
PANELS AND WORKING PARTIES
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
> Deputy Convenor, NSW Child DeathReview Team.
> Chair, 2006 AIPN Conference OrganisingCommittee.
> Member of International ScientificConference Committee, 8th WorldConference on Injury Prevention andSafety Promotion, Durban, South Africa,2nd-5th April 2006.36
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Tra
nsla
tin
g R
ese
arc
h i
nto
Po
lic
y a
nd
Pra
cti
ce
NSW Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention Symposium 2005,Parliament House, 29th November 2005
37
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
> Member, Associate Professor PromotionCommittee for Australian Defence ForcesAcademy.
> Member, National Rail Industry Referencegroup on fatigue.
> Member, Performance MeasuresTaskgroup for NSW Mine Safety AdvisoryCommittee.
> Member, Farm Machinery SafetyReference group.
> Member, Expert Roundtable, Review of theAustralian Consumer Product SafetySystem - Incidence and Cost of ConsumerProduct Injury.
> Chair, UNSW Human Research EthicsAdvisory Panel-Social/Health Research
DR JULIE HATFIELD
> Member, NSW Road Safety Task Force.
> Member, AIPN Conference OrganisingCommittee.
DR ANDREW HAYEN
> Member, AIPN Conference ScientificCommittee.
DR ANDREW MARICH
> NSW Public Health Officer Trainingprogram - Trainee representative.
> Australasian Faculty of Public HealthMedicine - Public Health Officer Traineerepresentative.
REBECCA MITCHELL
> Chair, Scientific Committee, 2006National Playground Safety Conference.
> Member, Scientific Committee, HumanFactors and Ergonomics Society ofAustralia 2006 Conference.
> National General Secretary and BoardMember, Human Factors and ErgonomicsSociety of Australia.
> Member, National Coronial InformationAdvisory Group.
MARY POTTER FORBES
> Member, Expert Roundtable, Review of theAustralian Consumer Product SafetySystem - Incidence and Cost of ConsumerProduct Injury, Productivity Commission.
> Member, Research ManagementCommittee, Faculty of Science, UNSW.
> Member, Cross Faculty Marketing Group,Faculty of Science, UNSW.
MARIA ROMITI
> Student representative of the AustralianInjury Prevention Network ExecutiveCommittee.
DR SHAUNA SHERKER
> SMA (NSW) Board of Directors.
> Member, AIPN Conference ScientificCommittee.
> NSW IRMRC representative for the UNSWFaculty Management Research Committee(Science) (until August 2005).
LETTERS/EDITORIALS/OTHER ARTICLES
Finch C. A picture of Australia's children.Medical Journal of Australia. 2005; 183(4):223.
Finch C. Why good science is synonymouswith quality and integrity. Journal of Scienceand Medicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4): iv-vi.
Finch C. Taking the JSMS to 2005 and beyond- our performance and some key changes tothe editorial process. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(1): iv-v.
Finch C. Informing public policy: the role ofthe Journal. Journal of Science and Medicinein Sport. 2005; 8(3): iv.
Finch C. JSAMS-Moving On. Sports Health.2005; 23(3):23
Finch C. The Journal of Science and Medicinein Sport is to enter fully into the electronicage! Journal of Science and Medicine inSport. 2005; 8(3): vi.
Mitchell R. Laptops in the workplace. OHSAlert. 2005; 6: 4-6.
Mitchell R, Hayen A. Defining cricket injury.British Journal of Sports Medicine.(electronic letter. October 2005)
Mitchell R, Hayen A. Defining cricket injury.Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.2005; 8(3): 357-359
Sherker S, Ozanne-Smith J. Are currentplayground safety standards adequate forpreventing arm fractures? Medical Journal ofAustralia. 2005; 182(1): 47.
“Hel
met
use
nee
ds to
be
enco
urag
ed“
A/P
rof A
nn W
illia
mso
n, A
larm
at l
ow u
se o
f hel
met
s by
cyc
list,
The
Sun
Her
ald,
6th
Feb
ruar
y 20
05O
the
r r
ese
arc
h p
ro
jec
t str
ea
ms - E
pid
em
iolo
gy a
nd
Inju
ry S
urve
illan
ce
LIST OF MAJOR COLLABORATORS
During 2005, the Centre had major researchcollaborations with a number of peopleacross UNSW and external to it.
MS KRISTY ABBOTT Youthsafe
PROFESSOR PETER ABELSON MacquarieUniversity
A/PROFESSOR LYNNE BILSTON Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute, UNSW
A/PROF DEBORAH BLACK School of PublicHealth and Community Medicine, UNSW
PROFESSOR PHILIP BOHLE School ofOrganisation and Management, UNSW
DR ROB BRANDER School of Biological,Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW
MS JULIE BROWN Prince of Wales MedicalResearch Institute, UNSW
PROFESSOR IAN CAMERON RehabilitationStudies
MS MARGARET CAVANAGH Kidsafe
DR JACQUELINE CLOSE Prince of WalesMedical Research Institute
A/PROFESSOR JEAN CROSS School of SafetyScience, UNSW
DR LESLEY DAY Monash UniversityAccidents Research Centre
MR ALEX DONALDSON Northern AreaHealth Services
DR TIM DRISCOLL School of Public Health,University of Sydney
PROFESSOR WILLIAM DUNSMUIR Schoolof Mathematics, UNSW
MR DAVID EAGER Faculty of Engineering,University of Technology Sydney
DR ROCHELLE EIME School of HumanMovement and Sport Science, University ofBallarat
PROFESSOR BRUCE ELLIOTT School ofHuman Movement and Exercise Science,University of Western Australia
DR ANNE-MARIE FEYER PricewaterhouseCoopers/NEOH, University of Otago
PROFESSOR IAN FORBES, Group for HealthArchitecture and Planning (GHAAP), Facultyof the Built Environment, University ofTechnology Sydney (UTS)
DR BELINDA GABBE Department ofEpidemiology and Preventive Medicine,Monash University
MR MAX HEALEY Safety Science Associates
DR REBECCA IVERS The George Institute forInternational Health
PROFESSOR JIM KEHOE School ofPsychology, UNSW
DR TIM LAMBERT School of ComputerScience and Engineering, UNSW
DR DAVID LLOYD School of HumanMovement and Exercise Science, University ofWestern Australia
A/PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD Prince ofWales Medical Research Institute
DR ANDREW MCINTOSH School of SafetyScience, UNSW
PROFESSOR ROBYN NORTON GeorgeInstitute of International Health, University ofSydney
A/PROFESSOR LEONIE OTAGO School ofHuman Movement and Sport Science,University of Ballarat
38
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Lis
t o
f M
ajo
r C
olla
bo
ra
tors
Signing of the MOU between Youthsafe and IRMRC on 19th October 2005
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The NSW Injury Risk Management ResearchCentre and Youthsafe have signed aMemorandum of Understanding on 19th
October 2005.
39
DR ROSLYN POULOS School of PublicHealth and Community Medicine, UNSW
PROFESSOR MICHAEL QUINLAN School ofOrganisation and Management, UNSW
DR DANIEL RAMP School of Biological,Earth and Environmental Science, UNSW
A/PROFESSOR JAN RITCHIE School ofPublic Health and Community Medicine,UNSW
DR ALISON RUTHERFORD School of PublicHealth and Community Medicine, UNSW
DR STEPHEN SHORROCK School ofAviation, UNSW
MS REBECCA STELLATO RIVM, Bilthoven,Netherlands
PROFESSOR MARK STEVENSON GeorgeInstitute of International Health, University ofSydney
DR DAINA STURNIEKS Prince of WalesMedical Research Institute
DR IRENE VAN KAMP RIVM, Bilthoven,Netherlands
PROFESSOR BILL WALSH Department ofSurgery, Prince of Wales Hospital
PROFESSOR ANTHONY ZWI School ofPublic Health and Community Medicine,UNSW
DR KAREN ZWI Sydney Children's Hospital
VISITORS TO THE CENTRES
MRS MARION BURGESS Australia DefenceForce Academy
DR TONY CARTER School of Public Healthand Tropical Medicine, James Cook University
DR LESLEY DAY Monash University AccidentResearch Centre
MR ROBERT FITZGERALD ProductivityCommission
DR RAPHAEL GRZEBIETA Department ofCivil Engineering, Monash University
MR MLADEN KOVAC WorkCover, NSW
PROF JOHN LANGLEY Injury PreventionResearch Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin,New Zealand
A/PROF REINHOLD MULLER School ofPublic Health and Tropical Medical, JamesCook University
DR WENDY WATSON Monash UniversityAccident Research Centre
“the
Cen
tre
had
maj
or r
esea
rch
colla
bora
tions
with
a n
umbe
r of
peo
ple
acro
ssU
NSW
and
ext
erna
l to
it. ”
Lis
t of M
ajo
r C
olla
bo
ra
tors
IRMRC Staff meeting with Prof Joseph Lai and his teammember at ADFA, Canberra on 15th September 2005
PUBLICATIONS
PEER-REVIEW JOURNAL PAPERS
Boufous S, Finch C. Epidemiology of scaldsin vulnerable groups in New South Wales,Australia, 1998/1999 to 2002/2003. Journalof Burn, Care and Rehabilitation. 2005;26(4): 320-326.
Boufous S, Finch C. Estimating the incidenceof hospitalised injurious falls: impact ofvarying case definitions. Injury Prevention.2005; 11; 334-336.
Boufous S, Finch C, Lord S, Close J. Theincreasing burden of pelvic fractures inolder people, New South Wales, Australia.Injury. 2005; 36: 1323-1329.
Cameron A, Gabbe B, McNeil J, Finch C,Smith K, Cooper J, Judson R, Wissman T.The trauma registry as a state wide qualityimprovement tool. Journal of Trauma. 2005;59(6): 1469-1476.
Dennis R, Finch C, Farhart PJ. Is bowlingworkload a risk factor for injury toAustralian junior cricket fast bowlers? BritishJournal of Sports Medicine. 2005; 39: 843-846.
Driscoll T, Marsh S, McNoe B, Langley J,Stout N, Feyer A-M, Williamson A.Comparison of fatalities from work relatedmotor vehicle traffic incidents in Australia,New Zealand, and United States. InjuryPrevention. 2005; 11: 294-299.
Eime R, Finch C, Owen N, McCarty C. Dosquash players accurately report use ofappropriate protective eyewear? Journal ofScience and Medicine in Sport. 2005; 8(3):352-356.
Eime R, Finch C, Wolfe R, Owen N, McCartyN. The effectiveness of a squash eyewearpromotion strategy. British Journal of SportsMedicine. 2005; 39: 681-685.
Eime R, McCarty C, Finch C, Owen N.Unprotected eyes in squash: not seeing therisk of injury. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(1): 92-100.
Finch C, Braham R, McIntosh A, McCrory P,Wolfe R. Should football players wearcustom fitted mouthguards? Results from arandomised controlled trial. InjuryPrevention. 2005; 11: 242-246.
Gabbe B, Finch C, Bennell K, WajswelenerH. Risk factors for hamstring injuries incommunity-level Australian football. BritishJournal of Sports Medicine. 2005; 39: 106-110.
Gabbe BJ, Finch CF, Cameron PA, WilliamsonOD. Incidence of serious injury and deathduring sport and activities in Victoria,Australia. British Journal of Sports Medicine.2005; 39: 573-577.
Mitchell R, Boufous S. Self reported work-related injury in NSW. Journal ofOccupational Health and Safety. 2005;21(3): 229-236.
Rae K, Britt H, Orchard J, Finch C. Classifyingsports medicine diagnoses: A comparison ofthe International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10-AM) and the Orchard Sports InjuryClassification System (OSICS). British Journalof Sports Medicine. 2005; 39: 907-911.
Saddik B, Williamson A, Nuyahid I, Black D.The effects of solvent exposure on memoryand motor dexterity in working children.Public Health Reports. 2005; 120(6): 657-664.
Sherker S, Ozanne-Smith J, Rechitzer G,Grzebieta R. Out on a limb: risk factors forarm fracture in playground equipment falls.Injury Prevention. 2005; 11: 120-124.
Sherker S, Short A, Ozanne-Smith J. The in-situ performance of playground surfacing:implications for maintenance and injuryprevention. International Journal InjuryControl and Safety Promotion. 2005; 12(1):63-66.
Taylor D, Bennett D, Carter M, Gareval D,Finch C. Perceptions of surfboard ridersregarding the need for protective headgear.Wilderness and Environmental Medicine.2005; 16: 75-80.
Valuri G, Stevenson M, Finch C, Hamer P,Elliott B. The validity of a four week self-recall of sports injuries. Injury Prevention.2005; 11:135-137.
Watson L, Balster SM, Finch C, Dalziel R.Measurement of scapula upward rotation: areliable clinical procedure. British Journal ofSports Medicine. 2005; 39: 599-603.
Williamson A. Fatigue and coping with driverdistraction. Journal of the AustralasianCollege of Road Safety. 2005: 19-21.
RESEARCH REPORTS
Finch C, Mahoney M, Babic Z, Townsend M,Otago L. Fostering the delivery of safephysical activity environments: The role ofrisk management plans. VictorianDepartment of Human Services. December2005.
40
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005 Pu
blic
ati
on
s
All IRMRC authors are listed in bold in the following lists
41
Hatfield J. Literature review regarding theeffects of advertising instalments on roadsafety. Report to the Roads and TrafficAuthority of NSW. 2005
Hatfield J, Chamberlain T. The effects of in-vehicle audiovisual display units onsimulated driving. Report to the Roads andTraffic Authority of NSW. 2005.
Hatfield J, Job RFS, Hesketh B, Joung W. Thedevelopment of messages and experiencesto reduce road-related illusoryinvulnerability and risky driving, for youngdrivers. Report to the Motor AccidentsAuthority. 2005.
Hatfield J, Murphy S, Kasparian N, Job RFS.Risk perceptions, attitudes and behavioursregarding driver fatigue in NSW youth: Thedevelopmental of an evidence-based driverfatigue educational intervention strategy.Report to the Motor Accidents Authority.2005.
McIntosh A, McCrory P, Finch C, Best J,Chalmers D. Rugby headgear study. Schoolof Safety Science, UNSW. 2005.
Potter Forbes M, Abelson P, Driscoll T. Thecost of work related injury and illness inNew South Wales 2000-2001. Report to theNSW Workcover Authority. 2005.
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Abbott K, Klarenaar P, Sherker S, DonaldsonA, Cross G. Measuring the success of "SafeClub": Can risk management trainingimprove community sports safety? 2005Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16th
October 2005. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4): 221.
Boufous S. Determining incident cases forhospitalised injurious falls in older people: adata linkage study. School of Public Healthand Community Medicine postgraduateresearch student conference, 9th September2005. SPHCM Postgraduate ResearchStudent Conference Program and Abstractsp.38.
Braham R, Finch C, McIntosh A, McCrory P.Community football players' attitudetowards protective equipment. 1st WorldCongress on Sports Injury Prevention, Oslo,Norway, 22nd-26th June 2005. BritishJournal of Sports Medicine. 2005;39(6):376.
Braham R, Zazryn T, Finch C. Challenges ofconducting sports injury research atcommunity level. 1st World Congress onSports Injury Prevention, Oslo, Norway,
22nd-26th June 2005. British Journal ofSports Medicine. 2005; 39(6):376-377.
Cameron P, Gabbe B, Finch C, Williamson O.The incidence of serious injury and deathduring sport and recreation activities inVictoria, Australia. 1st World Congress onSports Injury Prevention, Oslo, Norway,22nd-26th June 2005. British Journal ofSports Medicine. 2005; 39(6):378.
Eime R, Finch C, Wolfe R, Owen N, McCartyC. A controlled evaluation of a squasheyewear promotion strategy. 2005 AustralianConference of Science and Medicine inSport, Melbourne, 13-16th October 2005.Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.8(4):221
Gabbe BJ, Finch CF, Bennell KL, WajswelnerH, Orchard JW. Risk factors for hamstringinjuries in Australian football. 1st WorldCongress on Sports Injury Prevention, Oslo,Norway, 22nd-26th June 2005. British Journalof Sports Medicine. 2005; 39(6):385.
McManus A, Stevenson M, Finch C. Time-motion analysis: non-elite Australian football.2005 Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16thOctober 2005. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4):67.
McManus A, Stevenson M, Finch C. Time-motion analysis: non-elite field hockey. 2005Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16thOctober 2005. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4):68.
McManus A, Stevenson M, Finch C. Time-motion analysis: non-elite netball. 2005Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16thOctober 2005. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4):68.
Otago L, Garnham J, Reynolds M, Spittle M,Payne W, Finch C, Maher S. Parentalperceptions of sports injury risk. 2005Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16thOctober 2005. Journal of Science andMedicine in Sport. 2005; 8(4):205.
Romiti M, Finch C, Gabbe B. The JuniorAustralian Football Safety Study (JAFSS):injury patterns and future suggestions forinjury prevention. 2005 AustralianConference of Science and Medicine inSport, Melbourne, 13-16th October 2005.Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.2005; 8(4):220.
Pu
blic
atio
ns
PRESENTATIONS
IRMRC co-authors listed in bold
CONFERENCES
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
Finch C. Research methods in sports injuryprevention. 1st World Congress on SportsInjury Prevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th
June 2005. (Invited keynote address)
Finch C. Community sports injury prevention.1st World Congress on Sports InjuryPrevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th June2005. (Invited talk)
Finch C. Surveillance in different populations.1st World Congress on Sports InjuryPrevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th June2005. (Invited talk)
Finch C. Injury prevention at the communitylevel. 1st World Congress on Sports InjuryPrevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th June2005. (Invited Chair)
Finch C. Methodology of sport injuryregistration: What are the key pieces of thepuzzle? 1st World Congress on SportsInjury Prevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th
June 2005. (Invited Co-Chair)
Finch C. What are the potential problems inintroducing protective equipment?. 1st
World Congress on Sports InjuryPrevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th June2005. (Invited talk)
Finch C. The interface between sports injuryprevention and public health. The 10th
Annual Stampede Sport MedicineConference, University of Calgary,Canada, 9th July 2005. (Invited talk)
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
Williamson A. Payment by results, fatigue anddrug use in the long distance roadtransport industry. Changing Industries,Industrial Relations, Occupational Safetyand Health, and the Role of WorkOrganisation and Economic Competition atLabor and Employment RelationsAssociation Annual Meeting, Philadelphia,6-8th January 2005. (Invited talk)
Williamson A. Fatigue and quality of life inthe long distance road transport industry.Maximising Safety, Efficiency and Qualityof Life: Linking the work and off-workconditions for transportation workersthrough the application of behaviouralscience, Transportation Research Board84th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 9-13th January 2005. (Invited talk)
Williamson A. Payment by results, fatigue anddrug use in the long distance roadtransport industry. Health and Safety Effectsof Intense Competition on TransportWorkers, Transportation Research Board84th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 9-13th January 2005. (Invited talk)
Williamson A. Analysis of the causes ofreportable incidents in the mining industry.Fourth National OHS Regulatory ResearchColloquium, Canberra, 9-10th February2005. (Proferred paper)
Williamson A. Drug use and incentivepayments for truck drivers. Fourth NationalOHS Regulatory Research Colloquium,Canberra, 9-10th February 2005. (Proferredpaper)
Williamson A. Fatigue and coping with driverdistraction. International conference onDriver Distraction, Sydney, 2-3rd June2005. (Invited talk)
Williamson A. The role of the human factor inmine safety. Annual Mine Safety Seminarfor NSW Inspectors of mines, 1st August2005. (Invited talk)
Williamson A. Fatigue in transportation. 2005International Conference on FatigueManagement in Transportation Operations,Seattle, USA, 11-15th September 2005.(Invited panellist)
42
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Pre
se
nta
tio
ns
1st World Congress on Sports Injury Prevention, Oslo, Norway, 22nd-26th June 2005
43
Williamson A. A data-matching study of therole of fatigue in work-related crashes.2005 International Conference on FatigueManagement in TransportationOperations, Seattle, USA, 11-15th
September 2005. (Proferred paper)
Williamson A. Developing effective measuresof fatigue for use in the real-world. 2005International Conference on FatigueManagement in TransportationOperations, Seattle, USA, 11-15th
September 2005. (Proferred paper)
Williamson A. Using self-report measures inoccupational and environmental health:can they be trusted? 9th InternationalConference on NeurobehaviouralMethods and Effects in OccupationalHealth, 28th September 2005. (Invitedkeynote address)
SOUFIANE BOUFOUS
Boufous S. Determining incident cases forhospitalised injurious falls in older people:a data linkage study. SPHCM postgraduateresearch student conference, 9th September2005. (Proferred paper)
REBECCA DENNIS
Dennis R. Bowling workload as a risk factorfor injury to elite cricket fast bowlers.Cricket Australia Sports Science MedicineForum, Brisbane, 4-5th April 2005. (Invitedtalk)
RENA FRISWELL
Friswell R. Evaluating fatigue managementstrategies for long distance road transport.2005 International Conference on FatigueManagement in TransportationOperations, Seattle, USA, 11-15th
September 2005. (Proferred paper)
DR JULIE HATFIELD
Hatfield J. Noise sensitivity: background andproposal for laboratory study. A meetingof noise experts, Utrechts, Netherlands,20th April 2005. (Invited talk)
Hatfield J. Transparent communication ofnoise information. RIVM (National Instituteof Public Health and the Environment,Netherlands), Bilthoven, Netherlands, 21stApril 2005. (Invited talk)
Hatfield J. Transparent communication ofnoise information. Ministry for HousingSpatial Planning and the Environmentaloffice, Den Haag, Netherlands, 27th April2005. (Invited talk)
MARY POTTER FORBES
Potter Forbes M. Multi-method approach toquality and safety in patient care: thecomponents of a comprehensive clinicalrisk management system in health care. 6th
Annual meeting of the Japanese Society forClinical Pathways, Nigata, Japan, 2nd
December 2005 (Invited keynote address)
“spo
rts
inju
ries
are
....a
maj
or p
ublic
hea
lth b
urde
n”Pr
of C
arol
ine
Finc
h -
Edito
rial
- Jo
urna
l of S
cien
ce a
nd M
edic
ine
in S
port
, Sep
tem
ber
2005
Pre
se
nta
tion
s
6th Annual Meeing of the Japanese Society of ClinicalPathways, Nigata, Japan, 2nd December 2005
MARIA ROMITI
Romiti M. The Junior Australian Football SafetyStudy (JAFSS): injury patterns and futuresuggestions for injury prevention. 2005Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16th
October 2005. (Proferred paper)
DR SHAUNA SHERKER
Sherker S. Drunk, drowsy, doped: Injury riskperceptions of skiers and snowboardersregarding alcohol fatigue and drug use.Sports Medicine Australia-NSW Conferenceof Science and Medicine in Sport, Sydney,30th April 2005. (Invited talk)
Sherker S. Slippery slopes: injury riskperceptions of skiers and snowboarders inrelation to fatigue, alcohol and drug use.2005 Australian Conference of Science andMedicine in Sport, Melbourne, 13-16th
October 2005. (Proferred paper)
OTHER PRESENTATIONS
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
> Sports Injury in Australia. Direction de lapromotion de la securite, Ministere del'Education, du Loisir et du Sport, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, 12th April 2005. (Invitedtalk)
> Should we be concerned for the safety ofour children in sport? Direction de lapromotion de la securite, Ministere del'Education, du Loisir et du Sport, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, 12th April 2005. (Invitedtalk)
> The NSW Injury Risk ManagementResearch Centre. National Public HealthInstitute of Quebec, Montreal, 20th April2005. (Invited talk)
> Protective equipment and sports -perceived injury risk and safetybehaviours. Clinical Research Rounds,Montreal Children's Hospital, 22nd April2005. (Invited talk)
> The NSW Injury Risk ManagementResearch Centre. Public Health Agency ofCanada, Ottawa, 22nd April 2005. (Invitedtalk)
> The Injury Risk Management ResearchCentre. Injury Prevention Research Unit,Otago University, Dunedin, 6th October2005. (Invited talk)
> A new framework for research leading tosports injury prevention. Injury PreventionResearch Unit, Otago University,Dunedin, 6th October 2005. (Invited talk)
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
> Human factors. Master of OccupationalPsychology, Macquarie University, 8th May2005. (Invited talk)
> Fatigue, arousal and performance: Currenttheory and implications for practice.Jocelyn Wales Seminar series, James CookUniversity, Cairns, 29th May 2005. (Invitedtalk)
SOUFIANE BOUFOUS
> Epidemiology of Falls. Elderly Falls Forummeeting, 4th May 2005 (Invited talk)
> Data linkage. Presentation at MotorAccidents Authority, 20th October 2005.(Invited talk)
REBECCA DENNIS
> Establishing a national tracking system forfast bowlers. Cricket Australia NationalPace Bowling Program meeting, Brisbane,6th April 2005. (Invited talk)
> Research into practice: Workload as a riskfactor for injury to cricket fast bowlers -information for coaches. Level 3 CoachingCourse, Australian Institute of Sport, 31st
July 2005. (Invited talk)
DR JULIE HATFIELD
> Engineering in practice and researchrelating to risky driving. ResearchWorkshop, Managing Injury Risk-The Roleof Engineering, 22nd July 2005. (Invitedtalk)
DR ANDREW HAYEN
> Logistic regression. Odds ratio workshop,UNSW, 14th September 2005. (Invited talk)
> Data linkage. Presentation at MotorAccidents Authority, 20th October 2005.(Invited talk)
LECTURES
A/PROF ANN WILLIAMSON
> Introduction to human factors and injurybehavioural aspects. NSW IRMRC ShortCourse, 14th July 2005.
SOUFIANE BOUFOUS
> Injury Surveillance. NSW IRMRC ShortCourse, 12th July 2005.
ANNALIESE DOWLING
> Falls in the older people. NSW IRMRCShort Course, 13th July 2005.
DR ANDREW HAYEN
> Injury surveillance and documenting theburden of injury in NSW. University ofSydney, Master of Public Health Lecture,27th May 2005.
> Documenting the burden of injury in NSW.NSW IRMRC Short Course, 14th July 2005.
DR SHAUNA SHERKER
> Injury risk management in the real world -Practical exercise in playground injuryprevention. NSW IRMRC Short Course, 14th
July 2005.
44
IRM
RC
AN
NU
AL R
epor
t 2005
Fu
rth
er P
re
se
nta
tio
ns a
nd
Le
ctu
re
s
45
AWARDS
In 2005, IRMRC staff received the
following awards:
PROF CAROLINE FINCH
> Visiting Lecturer Award from the AlbertaHeritage Foundation for MedicalResearch, June 2005.
> NSW Sporting Injuries Committee Awardfor Best Young Investigator (Co-author):Injury Prevention. 2005 AustralianConference of Science and Medicine inSport, Melbourne, 13-16th October 2005:Eime R, Finch C, Wolfe R, Owen N,McCarty N. A controlled evaluation of asquash eyewear promotion strategy.
SOUFIANE BOUFOUS
> UNSW Bookshop Award for Excellence inResearch - Research Student.
DR JULIE HATFIELD
> Visiting Scholar Bursary from theNetherlands Organisation for ScientificResearch
> Visiting Scholar Bursary from the NationalInstitute of Public Health and theEnvironment, Netherlands.
DR SHAUNA SHERKER
> 2004 Mollie Holman Doctorate medal foroutstanding PhD thesis, MonashUniversity.
> NHMRC Public Health ResearchFellowship for 2005-2008.
NSW
Spo
rtin
g In
juri
es C
omm
ittee
Aw
ard
for
Bes
t You
ng In
vest
igat
orU
NSW
Boo
ksho
p A
war
d fo
r Ex
celle
nce
in R
esea
rch
- R
esea
rch
Stud
ent
Mol
lie H
olm
an D
octo
rate
Med
al fo
r O
utst
andi
ng P
hD T
hesi
s, M
onas
h U
nive
rsity A
wa
rd
s
Shauna - 2004 Mollie Holman Doctorate medal award atMonash University.