Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116014

Michelle Canham-Chervak, MPH¹, Bruce H. Jones, MD, MPH¹, Robyn B. Lee, MS², and Susan P. Baker, MPH³. (1) USA CHPPM (ATTN: MCHB-TS-DI), Injury Prevention Program, 5158 Blackhawk Rd, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403, 410.436.3534, michelle.chervak@apg.amedd.army.mil, (2) USA CHPPM, 5158 Blackhawk Rd, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403, (3) Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 North Broadway, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205

Purpose: To identify injury priorities for a US Army public health organization's injury prevention program using a systematic approach and objective criteria. Methods: Twelve injury experts convened for a one-day workshop. Existing criteria to prioritize injury programs and policy initiatives were reviewed. Five criteria were added. Criteria were re-worded to enhance military relevancy and grouped into four categories. A scoring system was defined; 10 points each for the first three categories (magnitude of the problem, preventability of the problem, feasibility of establishing programs or policies) and 5 for the final category (ability to evaluate). Subsequently, via email, participants scored 25 unintentional injury issues using these criteria and applicable surveillance data that had been presented during the workshop. Injury issues were ranked according to mean scores, harmonic mean scores, and the sum across criteria of weighted, normalized median scores. Results: Mean scores ranged from 7.6-25.7 (SDą5.2); harmonic mean scores ranged from 9.8-26.2 (SDą4.6); sums of weighted, normalized median scores ranged from 31.4-78.6 (SDą14.3). All three ranking procedures resulted in the same top two injury issues: physical training injuries and motor vehicle accidents. The following causes of injury also appeared in the top 10 (40%), regardless of ranking procedure: excessive heat, marching/drilling, military vehicle accidents, athletics/sports, falls/jumps, lifting/pushing/pulling, military vehicle accidents, excessive cold. Conclusions: This exercise produced a prioritized list of the US Army's top 10 injury issues that is being used to direct injury prevention efforts. These criteria could be adapted to systematically assess and prioritize health issues affecting other communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe this process used to prioritize injury program and policy initiatives.
• Recognize the value of assessing existing data and knowledge when prioritizing injury prevention efforts.
• Discuss the main criteria used to define injury program and policy priorities.

Keywords: Community Programs, Decision-Making

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.