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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Katherine L. Anderson, Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME 04102, 207-662-2208, anderk@mmc.org and David E. Clark, MD MPH, Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center, 887 Congress Street, Suite 210, Portland, ME 04102.

Background: The National Violent Injury Statistical System (NVISS), established in 1999, collected surveillance data for planning and evaluating policies to reduce violent deaths. Data were collected from Medical Examiner records, death certificates, police reports, and the crime laboratories. The state of Maine was one of ten original sites participating in this project. To increase the effectiveness of our NVISS data reports, we provided additional data and graphical presentations.

Methods: In addition to required NVISS sources, we also collected data on inpatient hospitalizations, hunting accidents, previous death certificates from Maine, and comparative national data from the CDC. These were analyzed with the NVISS data, summarized in colorful graphs, annotated with interpretive comments, and combined to create a single report entitled “Violent Death in Maine 2000-2003".

Results: “Violent Death in Maine 2000-2003” was sent to all data providers, key members of state and local government, advocacy groups, and other interested parties. We have also disseminated an electronic version, from which others can copy graphs for their own presentations. This report has been enthusiastically received as a valuable tool for assessing violent deaths in the state.

Conclusions: NVISS and its successor (NVDRS) are potentially important and useful sources for evaluation of violent deaths. Their data can be enhanced by including other available sources of information, developing graphical presentations, drawing attention to the most important findings, and disseminating this information to policy makers in a simple, well designed report.

Learning Objectives:

• -Identify advantages of combining other data sources with NVISS/NVDRS
• - Describe current sources of data that can be used to conduct violent injury research
• -Identify the advantages of a well-designed report detailing violent injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered