EMPHO Information Resource on Avoidable Injury
Evidence Base: What Works?
Contents
Cochrane Injuries Group
The Cochrane Injuries Group prepares, maintains and promotes the accessibility of systematic reviews in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic injury. the website currently contains over 70 reviews in areas such as:
- Community-based interventions for the prevention of burns and scalds in children
- Interventions for promoting smoke alarm ownership and function
- Interventions for reducing the use of baby walkers
- Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries
- Parenting programmes for the prevention of unintentional injuries in childhood
- Population-based interventions to prevent fall-related injury in older people
- The 'WHO safe communities' model for the prevention of injury in whole populations
- Bicycle helmet legislation for the prevention of head injuries
- Motorcycle rider training for preventing road traffic crashes
Better Safe than Sorry: Preventing Unintentional Injury to Children (Audit Commission/Healthcare Commission)
The Audit Commission and the Healthcare Commission have published a joint report "Better Safe Than Sorry: Preventing Unintentional Injury to Children". The report states that each year there are approximately 2,000,000 attendances by children at hospital (A&E) departments as the result of accidents that might have been prevented. This costs the NHS approximately £146 million per year and the most recent figures show that avoidable injuries kill three children in every 100,000 each year. The report sets out how successful prevention requires a more rigorous approach locally, based on the proper assessment of children's needs, good and well-collated data, agencies working together, a clear strategy and an approach based on evidence of what works. There are also recommendations in the report for the NHS primary care trusts, local councils and the Healthcare Commission.
Health Education Authority (HEA) Guidance on Prevention of Accidents in Older People
This guidance was produced by the Older People’s Programme at the HEA. It aims to be a resource and guide for policy makers and providers from the statutory authorities and for all those who have responsibility for the health and well-being of older people. The guidance focuses on accidental injuries and their effects upon older people, linking this into where most accidents occur and the resulting impact on health and social services.
Prevention and Reduction of Accidental Injury in Children and Older People - HDA Evidence Briefing
This evidence briefing is a review of the prevention and reduction of accidental injury in children and older people. It provides a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence drawn from systematic and other kinds of reviews, and also considers inequalities and cost effectiveness of interventions. Gaps and inconsistencies in the evidence about accidental injury are also identified as is guidance for future research commissioning.
Sub-sections include:
- On the road
- In the home
- At Leisure
- Community prevention programmes
- Mass media and training approaches
This report, from the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), aims to improve NHS organisations’ understanding of the scale and consequences of patient falls in hospitals, identify areas where efforts to reduce falls and injury are needed most, and direct NHS staff to some of the evidence-based resources for preventing falls.
Although Britain has a low level of death and injury compared to the rest of Europe, there are still many areas for improvement. This report is intended to help local agencies work more effectively to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.