175127 Golf cart-related injuries in the United States

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 1:30 PM

Daniel Watson, BS , College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Tracy Mehan, MA , Center for Injury Research and Policy, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Columbus, OH
Gary Smith, MD, DrPH , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MA , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
  
Background: Golf carts today are used in a variety of public and private settings. Injuries related to golf carts are an important and increasing problem for people of all ages. This study analyzes trends and potential causes of nonfatal golf cart-related injury on a national level.

Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was used to examine all cases of nonfatal golf cart-related injury treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) from 1990-2006. Analysis was conducted from June 2007 to September 2007.

Results: An estimated 147,696 (95% confidence interval [CI]=144,404-150,987 ) injuries, involving patients ranging in age from 2 months to 96 years, were treated in U.S. EDs for golf cart-related injuries during the study period. Injuries to children (<16 years of age) comprised 31.2% of cases. The most common type of injury was soft tissue damage (47.7%). Patients required hospitalization in 7.8% of cases. Falling from a golf cart was the most common cause of injury (38.3%). Of golf cart-related injuries with a reported location, 70.3% occurred at sports facilities, 15.2% occurred on streets or public property, and 14.5% occurred around a home or farm. The number of golf cart-related injuries increased steadily each year, with an increase of 132.3% over the 17-year study period. Conclusions: Given the growing capabilities and popularity of golf carts, coupled with the marked increase in golf cart-related injuries observed over the study period (>130%), intensified efforts are needed to prevent these injuries, especially among children.

Learning Objectives:
1)Recognize the need for increased injury prevention efforts to combat the growing number of golf cart-related injuries in the United States 2)Describe the trends and potential causes of non-fatal golf cart-related injuries 3)Identify possible injury prevention efforts to address the most common types of golf cart-related injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the Principal Investigator guiding the research, analysis, and writing of this paper.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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