Public beliefs about the preventability of unintentional injury deaths.

This report is based upon the results of a national random digit dialed telephone survey in which 943 adults were queried. Subjects reported the proportion of deaths due to motor vehicle crashes, falls, fires/burns, drowning and poisoning that they felt were preventable. On average, respondents believed that 56% of 'fatal accidents' were preventable; as were 62% of motor vehicle crash deaths, 53% of fall deaths, 67% of drownings, 62% of fire/burn fatalities and 70% of accidental poisonings. Logistic regression models predicting preventability beliefs differed according to the type of injury event in question, but socio-economic status and perceived alcohol involvement were positive predictors of beliefs related to all of the injuries under study. The ramifications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.

How members of the public interpret the word accident.

OBJECTIVE: To explore what the word accident means to the lay public. This interpretation is of interest because it has been raised by injury control professionals as one justification for discouraging use of that word. METHODS: A national telephone survey of 943 adults in the United States was conducted. Respondents were selected at random from households whose phone numbers were generated using random digit dialing techniques. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine if respondent characteristics predicted their interpretations of the word accident. RESULTS: Eighty three per cent of respondents associated preventability with the word accident, and only 26% felt that accidents were controlled by fate. However, 71% thought that accidents could not be predicted, and 4% felt that accidents were done on purpose. Age, education, income, and race emerged as independent predictors of various accident interpretations. CONCLUSIONS: Only in the case of "unpredictability" does the public's interpretation of the word accident match many experts' expectations. The concept of "unintentionality" is what seems to be communicated most strongly by use of the word accident. Persistent attempts on the part of injury control professionals to eliminate this word from social discourse may result in unintended consequences, which are discussed.

Objectives for the year 2000.

The Healthy People 2000 initiative challenges the United States to improve the health profile of Americans through a prevention agenda targeting improvements in health status and health service delivery and reduction of risk for disease and disability. Clinical laboratories play an important role in achieving these national health goals and objectives. Many specific objectives directly target improved laboratory services, whereas others are fundamentally dependent on access to better laboratory services. The effectiveness of preventive services (i.e., screening tests, immunizations, and counseling) in reducing morbidity and mortality is well documented. In addition to ensuring quality laboratory services through accurate and reliable screening tests, a unique challenge for clinical laboratories is meeting the critical need for improving communication of complete and necessary laboratory information among laboratories, providers, and patients to enhance patient counseling. The challenges facing clinical laboratories as we approach the year 2000 are complex, but the commitment of the laboratory community is essential.

Motivating the public to take advantage of skin cancer screening.

In recognition of continuing increases in the incidence of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, the American Academy of Dermatology has encouraged dermatologic communities nationwide to offer free skin cancer screening to the public. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center took part in one such effort last spring. This article summarizes the results of a survey of that center's participants. The data revealed that more than 90% of their attendees learned of the screening through the mass media. Most participants came in response to concern over a specific lesion. A significant association was found to exist between prescreening reports of high-risk perceptions and the subsequent discovery by physicians of malignant or premalignant conditions. These and other findings are discussed, with suggestions being made for future screenings.