Devroey D, Van Casteren V. More substances abuse among victims of home accidents than among victims of traffic accidents in Belgium. 1st European Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 25-27 june 2006, Vienna.
Eerste auteur: Devroey Dirk
Jaar: 2006
Type: Congres
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Abstract:
Background: A lot of information is available on substance abuse in traffic accidents and about the products involved of specific types of injuries, such as home accidents.
But there is little information about substance abuse in the different types of accidents such as home accidents and sports accidents. The objective of the present study was to analyse the circumstances in which accidents occur in Belgium. Special attention is paid to substance abuse in the different types of accidents.
Methods: The data for this registration were collected by the Belgian network of general practitioners (GPs) in 2002. It is a national network of GPs who collect and report data on selected conditions, including accidents. The data about accidents were recorded by 150 GPs. All accidents (sport, home, traffic, occupational and school) for which a medical intervention by a GP was necessary were recorded.
Results: In total 6938 accidents were recorded by the GPs of the network. Most of the victims were men (55%). In 48% it concerned a home accident. Sports accidents and occupational accidents occurred each in 16% of the registrations, traffic accidents in 12% and school accidents in 8%. The mean age of the victims was 38 years. Substance abuse was recorded in 13% of the accidents. It concerned mainly psychotropic medication (5,5%), acute alcohol abuse (3,3%) and chronic alcohol abuse (3,0%). Substance abuse was recorded in 21% of the home accidents and in 15% of the traffic accidents (p<0.05). Substance abuse was also recorded in 6% of the occupational accidents and in 3% of the sports accidents. In home accidents 9,1% of the victims were using psychotropic medication, in 4,9% acute alcohol abuse was observed and in 4,4% chronic alcohol abuse. In traffic accidents acute alcohol abuse was observed in 5,6% of the victims, 5,5% were using psychotropic medication and for 2,7% chronic alcohol abuse was reported.
Conclusion: Substance abuse is more frequently observed among victims of home accidents (21%) than among victims of traffic accidents (15%). Campaigns for injury prevention should not only focus on product safety but should also pay some attention to substance abuse.
Trefwoorden: home accidents; general practice; substance abuse; sentinel networks