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Oregon Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program and evaluation
E A Neuwelt1, M F Coe, A M Wilkinson
1Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.
Neurosurgery
|March 1, 1989
Summary
An educational program improved adolescent knowledge of head and spinal cord injury prevention but did not change attitudes or behaviors. Further reinforcement may be needed to impact behavior and reduce injury incidence.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Head and spinal cord injuries are major causes of death and disability in young adults (15-24 years).
- The Oregon Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program aimed to assess an educational intervention's effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an educational assembly program on students' knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding head and spinal cord injury prevention.
Main Methods:
- An observational study on shoulder belt use showed no change.
- A quasi-experimental design involving 1,331 students across seven Portland high schools (4 experimental, 3 control).
- Pre- and post-assembly surveys assessed knowledge, attitude, and behavior, with 626 matched responses.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in knowledge was observed in experimental schools (p < 0.01).
- No significant changes were found in student attitudes or self-reported behaviors related to injury prevention.
- Shoulder belt usage did not increase following the program.
Conclusions:
- The educational assembly effectively increased student knowledge about injury prevention.
- Changes in attitude and behavior were not observed, suggesting a need for reinforcement strategies.
- Further evaluation is required to determine the program's impact on injury incidence.