Influence of professional preparation and class structure on sexuality topics taught in middle and high schools.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the impact of professional preparation and class structure on sexuality topics taught and use of practice-based instructional strategies in US middle and high school health classes. METHODS: Data from the classroom-level file of the 2006 School Health Policies and Programs were used. A series of multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine if sexuality content taught was dependent on professional preparation and /or class structure (HE only versus HE/another subject combined). Additional multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine if use of practice-based instructional strategies was dependent upon professional preparation and/or class structure. Years of teaching health topics and size of the school district were included as covariates in the multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Findings indicated professionally prepared health educators were significantly more likely to teach 7 of the 13 sexuality topics as compared to nonprofessionally prepared health educators. There was no statistically significant difference in the instructional strategies used by professionally prepared and nonprofessionally prepared health educators. Exclusively health education classes versus combined classes were significantly more likely to have included 6 of the 13 topics and to have incorporated practice-based instructional strategies in the curricula. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated professional preparation and class structure impacted sexuality content taught. Class structure also impacted whether opportunities for students to practice skills were made available. Results support the need for continued advocacy for professionally prepared health educators and health only courses.

Pediatric injuries associated with fireplaces, United States, 2002-2007.

OBJECTIVE: To examine injuries among pediatric patients treated in an emergency department (ED) related to contact with a fireplace. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for the years 2002 through 2007. National estimates of ED visits for injuries associated with fireplaces were analyzed. Average annual rates were calculated, and logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk estimates for patient demographic characteristics related to ED visits for injuries associated with fireplaces. RESULTS: From 2002 through 2007, there were an estimated 8000 ED visits annually for injuries related to fireplaces in the United States, with an average annual rate of 18.8 ED visits per 100,000 children aged birth through 10 years. The most common injuries involved lacerations (66%), burns (10%), and contusions (10%). Most injuries occurred to the face (46%) or head (31%). Most patients (98%) were treated and released the same day. Results of logistic regression analyses revealed that children aged birth to 3 years (odds ratio, 12.2; 95% confidence interval, 9.1-16.5) and children aged 4 to 6 years (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.5-6.5) were more likely present in an ED for a fireplace-related injury when compared with older children aged 7 to 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is warranted in the areas of etiology, injury prevention interventions, health communications, and surveillance to facilitate more effective injury prevention efforts.

Pediatric injuries associated with the use of children's wagons in the United States, 2002 through 2007.

OBJECTIVE: To examine injuries among children treated in an emergency department (ED) related to use of a children's wagon. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2002 through 2007 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. National estimates of ED visits associated with the use of a children's wagon were analyzed among children aged birth through 6 years in the United States. RESULTS: From 2002 through 2007, there were an estimated 24,339 visits for injuries related to the use of children's wagons among children aged birth through 6 years, with an average annual injury visit rate of 14.5 per 100,000. Among injured children, 12% had a fracture and 17% had a closed head injury; most of these injuries were treated and the child released. The most frequently cited body part injured was the head (40%); the arm/wrist/hand was the most common body site to receive a fracture injury (48%). Boys had a higher injury visit rate than girls, and most patients (97%) were treated and released from the ED. CONCLUSIONS: The injury patterns noted in this study are similar to those found with other wheeled vehicles and toys. More detailed information on the circumstances surrounding wagon injuries and a better understanding of the patterns of play associated with wagons would be helpful in designing effective risk reduction strategies.

Epidemiology of basketball injuries among adults presenting to ambulatory care settings in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Little information exists that examines the epidemiology of injuries among adults who engage in sports and recreational activities. The purpose of this study is to examine basketball-related injuries among adults presenting to ambulatory settings in the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical records. SETTING: Emergency departments, outpatient departments, and physicians' offices in the United States. PATIENTS: Nationally representative sample of adults presenting to ambulatory care settings in the United States for treatment of injuries incurred while playing basketball. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body site injured, type of injury, ambulatory treatment site, and utilization of diagnostic testing. RESULTS: An annual average of 507,000 adults were treated in an ambulatory care setting for injuries related to playing basketball. The majority of these patients sought treatment in physicians' offices. Females had a much lower rate of visits (0.8/1000) for basketball-related injuries than males (5.7/1000); African American males had a rate 2.7 times higher than white males. The most common injuries were sprains and strains to the lower leg and/or ankle region and fractures of the hand, wrist, or fingers. Specific analyses of patients presenting to the emergency department diagnosed with sprain/strain injuries to the lower leg/ankle region revealed that 93% of these patients received an x-ray procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Basketball injuries constitute a significant portion of ambulatory medical care use in the United States each year, particularly among young adult males and African American males. Better surveillance of adult participation in sports and recreational activities is needed to better identify risk and protective factors for injuries.

Burn injuries among infants and toddlers in the United States, 1997-2002.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the magnitude and causes of unintentional burn injuries attributed to hot objects or substances among children aged birth to 4 years in the United States. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care System. RESULTS: Annually, 78,000 infants and toddlers were treated in ambulatory care settings for injuries due to contact with a hot object or substance. Hot foods, curling irons, or clothing irons were the main causes of burns. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the varied causes of burns, a combination of health education and product design interventions are likely necessary to prevent these injuries.

Alcohol-consumption behaviors and risk for physical fighting and injuries among adolescent drinkers.

This study examined the associations between specific alcohol-use measures and physical fighting, injuries received, and injuries inflicted on others while fighting. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) limiting our analyses to adolescent drinkers (n=8885) between the ages of 12 and 21 years. Results revealed that adolescent drinkers who reported problem drinking and peer drinking were more likely to engage in physical fighting, being injured, and injuring others in fights than drinkers who did not report these drinking behaviors even after controlling for drinking frequency and binge drinking. The findings highlight the need for violence prevention programs that focus on the reduction of alcohol use among adolescents.