Biomedical subjects

John Langley

Publications and source records attributed to John Langley.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Self-harmful behaviors in a population-based sample of young adults.

A birth cohort of 472 women and 494 men aged 26 years was interviewed about a range of self-harmful behaviors first and then asked about suicidal intent. Lifetime prevalence of self-harm using traditional methods of suicide (ICD [International Classification of Diseases] self-harm) was 13%, with 9% of the sample describing at least one such episode as "attempted suicide." Other self-harmful behaviors were common; 14% of women and 33% of men reported self-battery. ICD self-harm over the past year was reported by 3%, mostly without suicidal intent. ICD self-harm and even lesser behaviors were associated with high odds of reporting suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that studies of self-harm should include behaviors not necessarily associated with suicidal intent.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Upward trends in the incidence of neck of femur fractures in the elderly.

AIM: A recent paper by Fielden and colleagues suggested the incidence of neck of femur fractures among those aged 65 years and older underwent a much smaller increase during the 1990s than had previously been predicted. Given the importance of neck of femur fractures in New Zealand we sought to re-examine the conclusions of Fielden and colleagues, paying close attention to case selection. METHODS: Cases were selected from patients discharged by New Zealand public hospitals, with close attention paid to the inclusion criteria. Readmissions and day patients were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty eight per cent of the cases we identified were excluded as either readmissions or day patients. The resulting yearly incidence estimates were generally lower than those reported by Fielden and colleagues but the upward trends in incidence were stronger. Similarly, our estimates of the trends in age-specific rates for women showed the decline in these rates to be much less significant than that reported by Fielden and colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: Age-group-specific rates of neck of femur fracture have not declined as much as Fielden and colleagues suggested. Case selection can have a significant effect on estimated incidence and trends derived from hospital data.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

New Zealand drivers study: developing a methodology for conducting a follow-up study of newly licensed drivers.

PROBLEM: In recent years, there has been a significant reduction in traffic crash injury among young people, but they continue to be overrepresented in the traffic crash statistics. To improve this situation, sound scientific evidence is needed to develop effective policies and programs. METHOD: The aim of the proposed study is to provide this evidence by examining early driving and driving-related experiences of newly licensed drivers as they progress through the learner-, restricted-, and full-license stages of the graduated licensing system and to determine the impact of these experiences on subsequent negative traffic-related outcomes (risky driving behavior, injury traffic crashes, noninjury traffic crashes, infringements, convictions). Given the size and complexity of the proposed study, a comprehensive pilot study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of conducting a New Zealand-wide cohort study of newly licensed drivers. RESULTS: This article describes the pilot study process and the methodology that has been developed for the New Zealand-wide study.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2003

Measuring road traffic safety performance: monitoring trends in nonfatal injury.

Traditional indicators used to monitor trends in nonfatal injury are influenced by a range of factors other than the incidence of injury. Indicators based on threat-to-life scales offer a means of addressing this problem. The aim of the research described in this article was to compare trends in the official indicators with trends in selected threat-to-life indicators. We compared indicators based on the New Injury Severity Score and the International Classification of Diseases-based Injury Severity Score with the official New Zealand indicators; namely, (1) reported injuries, (2) reported injuries per 10,000 vehicles, (3) reported injuries per 100,000 people, and (4) number hospitalized (discharges). All the official indicators suggest that there has been a substantive decline in nonfatal Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes (MVTCs) for the period 1988-2000, but a notable increase in 2001. The latter appear to be artifactual increases due to changes in patterns of data collection and do not reflect any real changes in incidence. Further support for this is provided by the results for the two threat-to-life indicators, which suggest that the decline observed for 1988-98 may have been attributable to a decline in the ascertainment or occurrence of minor injuries since those injuries, which represent a significant threat to life, have not declined to the same degree. Given the prominence of motor vehicle crashes as a cause of unnecessary morbidity, more thought needs to be given to deriving valid indicators for measuring trends in serious nonfatal injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2003

Injury hospitalization and risks for subsequent self-injury and suicide: a national study from New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: Risks for suicide and nonfatal self-injury hospitalizations associated with previous injury hospitalizations were investigated in a nationwide retrospective cohort study conducted in New Zealand. METHODS: Linked data from all New Zealand public hospitals were used to identify individuals with injury hospitalizations. Participants were followed for 12 months. RESULTS: Significantly increased age- and sex-adjusted relative risks for suicide were associated with previous hospitalization for self-injury, injuries of undetermined causes, and assault. Also, elevated risks were associated with these causes of hospitalization in the case of subsequent self-injury hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that identifiable subgroups of individuals hospitalized for injuries are at marked risk for serious suicidal behavior and suggest the potential of targeted suicide prevention for these individuals.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The association between homelessness and suicidal ideation and behaviors: results of a cross-sectional survey.

This study was carried out with three goals: (1) to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among the homeless; (2) to determine what aspects of homelessness predict suicidality, and (3) to determine which aspects remain predictive after controlling for key covariates, such as mental illness. A sample of 330 homeless adults were interviewed. Sixty-one percent of the study sample reported suicidal ideation and 34% had attempted suicide. Fifty-six percent of the men and 78% of the women reported prior suicidal ideation, while 28 percent of the men and 57% of the women had attempted suicide. Childhood homelessness of at least 1 week without family members and periods of homelessness longer than 6 months were found to be associated with suicidal ideation. Psychiatric diagnoses were also associated with suicidality in this sample.

Adolescent↗