OBJECTIVE. Determine the effect of behavioral factors such as fatigue, alcohol, and restraint use on hospitalizations from motor vehicle crashes and determine if there was a change in these effects between 1992 through 1997. METHODS. Automobile crashes from 1992 through1997 in Utah were identified from statewide Utah motor vehicle crash records. Probabilistic methods were used to link these records with hospital records over the same years. Odds Ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression, with crash and driver characteristics as independent variables and hospitalization as the dependent variable. RESULTS. Between 1992 and 1997 there were 532,127 drivers, however 81,841 records were eliminated due to missing values in one or more covariates. Thus, the analysis database consisted of 450,286 drivers, which were linked to 3,551 (0.8%) hospitalizations. The percent of hospitalized drivers per year decreased from 1% in 1992 to 0.8% in 1997. Odds Ratios for restraint use, alcohol involvement, and fatigue stayed consistent between 1992 through 1997. Restraint use offered a protective effect with odds ratios ranging from 0.180 to 0.258. Alcohol involvement and fatigue contributed to an increased likelihood of hospitalization with odds ratios ranging from 2.992 to 4.728 and 3.095 to 4.452 respectively. CONCLUSIONS. This study shows that while the risk of hospitalization declined slightly during the study period, the effects of certain behavioral factors remained constant. These results support continuing education and legislation to alter perceptions of risk-taking behaviors that lead to injury, which may ultimately result in behavioral modifications.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Risk Taking Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.