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Biomedical subjects

G Sparks

Publications and source records attributed to G Sparks.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Understanding differences between high and low childhood accident rate areas: the importance of qualitative data.

BACKGROUND: The research discussed in the paper was undertaken for a District Health Authority to aid the development of appropriate policies to achieve the Health of the nation strategic target for reducing the death rate from accidents amongst children under 15. There has been a great deal of quantitative and epidemiological research into childhood accidents which has demonstrated a clear social class gradient in childhood accidents, fatalities and injuries. Less research has been undertaken into the possible reasons for the 'social patterning' of accidents and other aspects of health. Recent sociological research on childhood accidents has adopted a more qualitative approach and studied childhood safety within a family and community context. This approach has been used in the Huddersfield study on parental perspectives on childhood safety. METHODS: In-depth interviews were held with a sample of parents from a high and a low childhood accident rate area. RESULTS: The two focus areas reveal contrasting social profiles. There were significant differences on a number of aspects of parental perceptions on safety and beliefs about accidents, in the two areas. Analysis of accident events revealed that all the families in the high childhood accident rate area sample had children who had had an accident in the past which required hospital treatment. A high proportion of their children had experienced 'near misses'. In contrast, half the families in the low childhood accident rate area had children who had experienced an accident in the past and a much smaller proportion had experienced 'near misses'. All the parents in the sample from both areas developed rules, routines and practices to keep their children safe. The study suggests that there are social class differences in the effective use of these safety rules. CONCLUSION: Qualitatively orientated sociological research into parental perspectives on childhood safety contributes to an understanding of the reasons for the social patterning of childhood accidents. Such information should be of help to professionals in their prevention and safety promotion work.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1990

The medical and economic impact of closed cervical spine dislocations.

The current study examined the medical and economic impact of various treatment modalities of unstable cervical spine dislocations. Thirty-five patients with dislocations of the cervical spine were reviewed retrospectively from two large university hospitals. There were 23 unilateral and 12 bilateral facet dislocations. Fourteen patients were treated nonoperatively and 21 patients were treated with early surgery. Nine of the 14 patients treated nonoperatively redisplaced their dislocations while in an orthosis and required late surgery. Analysis of variance shows that it is the amount of injury (unilateral versus bilateral) that results in statistically significant difference in the injury severity score, Glasgow coma scale, trauma motor index, and the number of complications. Of the treatment groups (operative versus nonoperative), the operative group showed a statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay. Also noted in the operative group was less traction time, earlier erect physical therapy, an average financial savings of $18,407.00, and equal morbidity or mortality to the nonoperative treatment group. Based on this limited experience, it would appear that "diagnosis related groups" are not capable of supporting traumatic spinal care and, if adopted by other states and third party payers, the concept of trauma and/or spinal cord injury centers may be in jeopardy.

Adult↗