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Biomedical subjects

M H Cameron

Publications and source records attributed to M H Cameron.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The interaction between speed camera enforcement and speed-related mass media publicity in Victoria, Australia.

The objective was to measure the presence of any interaction between the effect of mobile covert speed camera enforcement and the effect of intensive mass media road safety publicity with speed-related themes. During 1999, the Victoria Police varied the levels of speed camera activity substantially in four Melbourne police districts according to a systematic plan. Camera hours were increased or reduced by 50% or 100% in respective districts for a month at a time, during months when speed-related publicity was present and during months when it was absent. Monthly frequencies of casualty crashes, and their severe injury outcome, in each district during 1996-2000 were analysed to test the effects of the enforcement, publicity and their interaction. Reductions in crash frequency were associated monotonically with increasing levels of speed camera ticketing, and there was a statistically significant 41% reduction in fatal crash outcome associated with very high camera activity. High publicity awareness was associated with 12% reduction in crash frequency. The interaction between the enforcement and publicity was not statistically significant.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed2001

The crash reduction effectiveness of a network-wide traffic police deployment system.

Random Road Watch (RRW) is a traffic policing program in operation in Queensland, Australia. It differs from conventional traffic policing in that an explicit resource management technique is used which randomly schedules low levels of police enforcement in a manner intended to provide long-term, widespread coverage of a road network and hence maximise road safety benefits. Implementation of the program studied in Queensland covered 55% of total crashes within the state. This study aimed to measure the crash effects of the RRW program in Queensland. A quasi-experimental study design was used for the evaluation incorporating Poisson regression statistical analysis techniques. Analysis of the effects of the Queensland RRW program on crash frequency has shown the program to be effective overall. Estimated program effects were largest on fatal crashes, with an estimated reduction of 31%. Estimated aggregate program crash effects reduced with crash severity and increased with time after program introduction. Crash reductions in the third year after program introduction translated into savings, at state level, of some 12% of the state's crashes of all severities and some 15% of the state's fatal road crashes. Overall, the program produced a significant 11% reduction in total crashes in areas outside of metropolitan Brisbane. The opportunity-cost benefit/cost ratio for the program was estimated to be 55:1.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1994

Mandatory bicycle helmet use following a decade of helmet promotion in Victoria, Australia--an evaluation.

On July 1, 1990, a law requiring wearing of an approved safety helmet by all bicyclists (unless exempted) came into effect in Victoria, Australia. Some of the more important steps that paved the way for this important initiative (believed to be the first statewide legislation of its type in the world) are described, and the initiative's effects are analysed. There was an immediate increase in average helmet-wearing rates from 31% in March 1990 to 75% in March 1991, although teenagers continued to show lower rates than younger children and adults. The number of insurance claims from bicyclists killed or admitted to hospital after sustaining a head injury decreased by 48% and 70% in the first and second years after the law, respectively. Analysis of the injury data also showed a 23% and 28% reduction in the number of bicyclists killed or admitted to hospital who did not sustain head injuries in the first and second post-law years, respectively. For Melbourne, where regular annual surveys of helmet wearing have been conducted, it was possible to fit a logistic regression model that related the reduction in head injuries to increased helmet wearing. Surveys in Melbourne also indicated a 36% reduction in bicycle use by children during the first year of the law and an estimated increase in adult use of 44%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Airbag and facebag benefits and costs.

There is debate about the appropriate design of supplementary airbags for passenger car occupants with high levels of seatbelt use. A theoretical analysis was performed to demonstrate the likely costs and benefits of U.S. fullsize driver airbags and the smaller European-style facebag. This study, undertaken for the Federal Office of Road Safety in Australia, builds upon previous work in this area. Benefits were determined using Harm Reductions for front-seat occupants involved in frontal crashes. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken for different benefit scenarios for the facebag, given the lack of available performance data. Likely costs of the components were derived from information provided by the local automobile manufacturers, part suppliers, and vehicle importers, with adjustments made for fitting to Australian vehicles. The results demonstrate the advantage of fullsize airbags over facebags, even when seatbelt wearing rates are high.

Air Bags↗
PubMed1992

Relative transmission of ultrasound by media customarily used for phonophoresis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative transmission of ultrasound by the media commonly used by physical therapists to apply phonophoresis. The relative transmission of ultrasound energy through various phonophoresis media was compared with that of degassed water, which is the ideal standard. Transmission was assessed by placing a thin layer of the test medium on the transducer of a therapeutic ultrasound unit and measuring delivery of ultrasound with an ultrasound power meter. The media evaluated produced two significantly different groups of transmission results: (1) transmission greater than 80% of that of water and (2) transmission less than 40% of that of water. Media that optimize the therapeutic efficacy of phonophoresis in both clinical and experimental settings are discussed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1986

Development and testing of scoring systems for predicting infants with high-risk of sudden infant death syndrome in Melbourne.

Epidemiological surveys undertaken in Melbourne during the past 8 years have provided data on which a birth scoring system for infants at high-risk for sudden infant death has been derived. This scoring system was developed after testing scoring systems developed in Sheffield, UK, on Melbourne data and then extending these systems. Prospective trials carried out on a preliminary version of the extended system showed that it is effective in identifying infants at high-risk. The final version of the birth scoring system is capable of identifying a group of future live births which will have a risk of about one in 55 of sudden and unexpected death. The system is also capable of identifying infants with relatively low-risk.

Australia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mandatory bicycle helmet use: experience in Victoria, Australia.

On July 1, 1990, the legislation requiring wearing of an approved bicycle (safety) helmet by all pedal cyclists, unless exempted, came into effect in Victoria, Australia. The paper describes the more important activities which paved the way for this initiative and presents some preliminary information about the effect of the legislation on wearing rates and head injuries. Since 1980 there has been promotion of helmet use through bicycle education in schools, mass media publicity, support by professional organizations and community groups, bulk purchase schemes, and government rebates for helmet purchases. The Australian Standard for bicycle safety helmets has also been changed to meet community demands for lighter helmets with more provision for ventilation. There has been a steady increase in voluntary helmet use in Melbourne from 1983 to March 1990, as follows: 5% to 70% in primary school children; 2% to 20% in secondary students; and 27% to 40% in adults. In the period after the legislation, with relatively little enforcement, these three groups have shown substantial increases in helmet use rates, rising to 70-90% in most cases. Preliminary data show that the numbers of bicyclists with a head injury have dropped in the period since the legislation came into effect. The possible contributions to this reduction, of less bicycle use and lower risk of head injury in an accident, are discussed.

Australia↗