ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are an emerging public health issue of global concern causing 1.35 million deaths per year. They are the leading cause of death among 5-29 years who contribute to the future and current productive population of the country. The outcome of mortality and permanent disability are public health concerns. We determined the factors associated with RTAs among medical undergraduates and assessed their knowledge of road traffic rules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had 500 medical undergraduates from a tertiary hospital located in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. Data were collected using questions from "Road safety question bank" issued by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, sent as Google forms to students. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with RTAs. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 21.4 (standard deviation = 1.7) years. About 30.4% of students suffered from RTAs in the past 2 years. Practice of drunken driving and mobile phone usage showed significant association with RTA occurrence (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that students crossing speed limits and jumping signals had 3.19 and 2.04 times more risk of sustaining RTAs. Seventy-five percent of students had good knowledge on road traffic rules. CONCLUSION: Nearly half the subjects have suffered RTA in the past 2 years. Students who over speed, jumped signals and used mobile phones while driving sustained more RTAs. Overall, road traffic rules knowledge was satisfactory. Students need education on risky driving behaviors and aftermath of crashes.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Globally, about 17 million people die of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) every year and a substantial number of these deaths are attributed to four major risk factors namely unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco consumption, and alcohol consumption. Doctors and nurses often have a sedentary lifestyle. AIMS: This study aimed at assessing the lifestyle-associated risk for CVDs among doctors and nurses in a medical college hospital. SETTING AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study among 250 doctors and nurses, selected using a stratified random sampling, working at a medical college hospital in Tamil Nadu. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After consenting, each participant answered a questionnaire comprising questions pertaining to the sociodemographic characteristics as well as lifestyle-related risk factors. Risk was categorized into low, moderate, and high based on general risk factors, physical activity risk factors, and dietary risk factors separately. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: It was found that 31.2% of all study subjects and 49.2% of doctors were at high general risk for CVDs; 30.4% of all study subjects and 42.1% of doctors were at high physical activity-related risk for CVDs; 14.4% of all study subjects and 19.8% of all doctors were at high dietary pattern-related risk for CVDs. Advancing age is a statistically significant risk factor across all risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors are at a higher risk for CVDs as compared to nurses as well as the general population.
