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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Maria Segui-Gomez, MD, ScD and Uwe P. Ewert, PhD. Dept. Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, Irurnlarrea 1, Pamplona, 31080, Spain, 34 948 425 600, msegui@unav.es

Purpose Injury control experts have used individual- or population-based measures to assess the magnitude and severity and the time trends of the injury problem. Yet, over the past few years, the discussion on measures has shifted to a discussion on “indicators”. We aimed to investigate the operational definitions of injury “indicators” available as well as the uses and misuses of the term. Methods A Pubmed search using the key terms “indicator” “injur*”, and “health” was done. Additional documentation from experts was gathered. A review of technical documentation was undertaken while looking for compliance into an array of technical criteria, including, for example operational definitions and relevance. (Preliminary) Results Of the approximately 40 papers or technical reports reviewed to date, 12 relate to general health indicators, including 4 commentaries or editorials and 1 systematic review, and 10 other relate to injuries, although only a couple of these are peer-reviewed publications. Of the so-called 55 injury indicators extracted to date, only a small subset fit the strictest definitions proposed by some authors. Most of the reviewed indicators relate to the determination of injury status and provision of health services, whereas a minority relate to determinants of injuries or public health measures. Conclusions The term indicator is currently used in a wide range of circumstances. Some use it as synonymous of “metric” or “measure” whereas others restrict its use to very specific criterion. How many of them fit the most commonly argued for technical criteria, still is under evaluation.

Learning Objectives:

• -To understand the meanings of the term indicator
• -To reflect on a varierity of technical criteria indicators are expected to meet
• -To learn of measures labeled as indicators in the injury field and their fitting with the above presented criteria
• -To understand uses and misuses of the term indicator

Keywords: Indicators, Injury

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation