190339 An assessment of injuries and the potential for injuries in a multi-tasking generation of college students

Monday, October 27, 2008

Heather M. Edwards, MA , College of Journalism & Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Paula Rausch , College of Journalism & Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Background/significance: Injuries are the major cause of death among college-age students; however, research investigating injuries unrelated to alcohol use is rare.

Objective/Purpose: To determine the frequency and nature of injuries among college students and the extent to which they utilize personal media devices outdoors, such as cell phones and Mp3 players, as well as the educational and safety measures in place to reduce injuries in this population.

Methods: Several methods were used to collect data, including key informant interviews, student focus groups, and naturalistic observation. Results will inform the development of a survey to solicit information about these issues from a broad cross-section of university students.

Results and discussion: Results from the literature and expert interviews show that alcohol use is the major cause of injuries among college students. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that “near misses” are not uncommon among those who use, and may be distracted by personal media devices, and that injuries resulting in death have occurred. Possible educational, policy and other suggestions for decreasing the frequency and severity of these injuries will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the frequency and nature of injuries among university students and recognize the educational and other steps that can be taken to help reduce injuries in this population. 2. Understand the importance of personal media devices in the lives of college students, the extent to which they utilize personal media devices outdoors, and the role their growing use may play in the frequency and severity of injuries among these students.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am one of the study’s researchers.
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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