Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S G Gerberich

Publications and source records attributed to S G Gerberich.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A population-based study of tractor-related injuries: Regional Rural Injury Study-I (RRIS-I).

Although tractors account for the majority of fatal farming-related injuries, little is known about the magnitude of this problem. The study population in this article was obtained from the five state Regional Rural Injury Study-I (RRIS-I) database that included 3939 farm households and 13,144 persons interviewed during 1990. Rates were calculated for sociodemographic variables and various exposures; logistic regression was used to calculate the relative risks and respective confidence intervals. Among the total farming-related injury events (n = 764), 65 (8.4%) were related to regular tractor (> or = 20 horsepower) use (495 injured persons per 100,000 persons per year). The rates increased incrementally for those persons working between 20 to 39 and 60 to 79 hours per week (range, 529 to 1430 per 100,000 persons). Among the 12 rollover events, there were only three injuries. The majority of injury events occurred while persons were mounting or dismounting the tractor (42%). Although only 7% of the cases were hospitalized, 83% required some type of health care. Among all injured persons, 43% were restricted from regular activities for 1 week or more and 20% were restricted for 1 month or more; 28% continued to have persistent problems. The finding of the large proportion of events associated with activities of mounting and dismounting suggests a need to investigate specific design characteristics of the tractors associated with these events and, in general, the tractors to which the population is exposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

An epidemiological study of roadway fatalities related to farm vehicles: United States, 1988 to 1993.

Compared with the estimated injury fatality rate for workers in all occupations (nine in 100,000 in 1988) the farm fatality rate (48 in 100,000) was among the highest in the nation; in 1993, these rates were eight and 35 in 100,000, respectively. On-road farm-vehicle fatalities have been identified as a significant problem, yet these events apparently have not been investigated in a comprehensive manner. The purpose of this study was to investigate the circumstances surrounding all on-road, non-truck, farm-vehicle crash fatalities in the United States form 1988 through 1993. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System, which includes data for all US fatal on-road motor vehicle crashes, was the source of data. Driver-related variables were compared among farm vehicles, vehicles in collisions with farm vehicles, and all other vehicles in rural, fatal crashes; environmental variables were compared between rural farm-vehicle and non-farm-vehicle crashes. During 1988 to 1993, in rural areas, 444 farm-vehicle occupants were killed; in addition, 238 occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians were killed in collisions with the farm vehicles. The farm vehicles were disproportionately involved in overturns, rear-end collisions, and incidents in which the injured person fell from the vehicle, when compared with all other non-farm vehicles involved in rural-area fatal crashes. Of the farm vehicles involved in fatal crashes at night, dawn, or dusk, 65% were struck in the rear, compared with 4% of vehicles involved in fatal non-farm-vehicle crashes. Compared with drivers in all other rural crashes, farm-vehicle operators were more likely to be male, have a greater proportion of convictions for driving while intoxicated, and a lower proportion of previous speeding convictions. From this initial investigation, it appears that the fatal-crash involvement of farm vehicles are related to vehicle and environmental factors that are changeable. Given the proportion of overturns associated with farm-vehicle crashes (21%) compared with non-farm vehicles (9%), there is a need to investigate design characteristics of the farm vehicles. The large proportion of farm vehicles struck in the rear during daylight (24%) as well as night, dawn, or dusk hours (65%), compared with non-farm vehicles (4% and 4%, respectively), suggest factors related to visibility and perception of the farm vehicles' speed that provide a basis for further study.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1995

Fatal farm injuries: a five-year study utilizing a unique surveillance approach to investigate the concordance of reporting between two data sources.

The agricultural industry has been ranked among the most hazardous. Yet, it has been alleged that occupational injuries and fatalities are seriously underreported. Access to quality agricultural injury data poses a special problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concordance of reporting of fatal agricultural injuries between death certificate data and the Newspaper Clipping Service data in the state of Minnesota, utilizing a surveillance system developed by the University of Minnesota. Between September 1, 1981, and August 31, 1986, a total of 350 agricultural fatalities were identified in Minnesota; 82% were identified through death certificate data and 67% through the Newspaper Clipping Service. Differences in reporting between the two data sources were noted for gender, age, injury type, anatomical site, source, mechanism of injury, and multiple versus single injury. If only death certificates had been utilized, 18% of the fatalities would have been missed. Although it is apparent that death certificate data have an advantage over the Newspaper Clipping Service data for fatality reporting of specific variables, this study revealed that death certificate surveillance alone will miss mortality data and detection of certain potential risk factors. Suggestions for improving surveillance of agricultural fatalities are identified. However, until relevant changes are made, it will be essential to use a combination of data sources that include the Newspaper Clipping Service to identify agricultural injury fatalities accurately.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1994

Bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. Epidemiology of related injury incidence and consequences.

This study investigated the incidence, consequences, and possible risk factors for injuries resulting from non-fatal bicycle-motor vehicle collisions during a one-year period in Minnesota. A study of 925 non-fatal collisions involving individuals 12 years of age and older in 1984 found an inverse relationship between age and collision incidence, with especially high rates identified for those between the ages of 12 and 14 (164 per 100,000) and 15 and 19 (71 per 100,000). Male bicyclists had consistently higher collision rates among all age groups. In a survey of the 925 individuals (64.3% response rate) 95% reported sustaining injuries as a consequence of the collisions. Twenty-one percent said they had not fully recovered from their injuries approximately two years post-injury, while 26% reported persistent problems. These results show a high incidence of collisions under certain conditions and suggest protective measures to make bicycling safer on our nation's roadways.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Disabling injuries to childcare workers in Minnesota, 1985 to 1990. An analysis of potential risk factors.

Injuries to clients in childcare centers have been studied to some degree, but the problem of worker injuries in childcare centers has remained unexplored. To investigate this problem, data were accessed from two sources for the years 1985 to 1990: 1) Minnesota Department of Jobs and Training for data pertinent to the populations of childcare center workers for each year of the study, and the 2) Minnesota Department of Labor for all case files relevant to reported injuries incurred by childcare center workers for each year of the study. Data analyses were conducted of all injuries as well as a subanalysis of back injuries incurred by female workers. The overall injury rate for the 6-year period was 1.08 per 100 workers. Of the 440 childcare worker injury cases, a mean age of 32 years (range, 17 to 72 years) was identified; 50% of all cases were below the age of 29 years. Analysis by subclassifications of childcare workers indicated that cooks had the highest injury rate (3.61 per 100 workers) and the greatest mean number of weeks of temporary total disability (13.2 weeks). According to anatomic site, injuries involving the back accounted for the greatest proportion of the total injuries (34.1%); 49% involved lifting a child. To protect childcare workers adequately, additional policies and regulations will be required, as well as further study in this area. Emphasis in the area of back injury is clearly needed, including education on proper lifting techniques and relevant application of engineering technology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1989

Analyses of the relationship between blood alcohol and nasal breath alcohol concentrations: implications for assessment of trauma cases.

To prevent serious complications and facilitate efficient and effective management of patients admitted to the emergency department or intensive care settings, it is extremely important to differentiate, quickly, between elevated concentrations of alcohol in the blood and compromised neurological status due to brain injury or other pathology. This research analyzed the relationship between blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) estimated from venous blood samples and those estimated from breath samples that were obtained using the Alco-Sensor III device with an attached tube for passive nasal breath sampling. Blood and breath samples, as well as brief medical histories and demographic and environmental data, were obtained and recorded for 35 adult trauma patients admitted to two major urban emergency departments. Passively expired nasal breath provided an excellent estimate of BAC measured from venous blood (range, 0 to 0.32) as evidenced in the extremely high regression coefficient (r = 0.99; slope = 1.22; p less than 0.0001). BAC assessment and monitoring, through the application of passive nasal breath sampling, provides a means of rapidly estimating BAC, and thus can facilitate diagnosis and the initiation of appropriate management and treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Analysis of a smoking policy in the workplace.

Following implementation of the smoking policy, an overall decrease in tobacco consumption was reported among 33% of the employees; of these, 32% quit completely. Smokers who reported smoking more than one pack of cigarettes a day were three times more likely to decrease consumption than those who reported smoking one pack or less a day. Among those who decreased their tobacco consumption, 43% associated this decrease with the policy implementation. A notable inverse relationship existed between smokers' tobacco consumption and attitudes about the policy: as cigarette consumption decreased, attitude about the policy increased positively.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Quadriceps strength training using two forms of bilateral exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of quadriceps strength training in 15 women using bilateral constant resistance computerized exercise equipment that enabled only concentric contractions. To facilitate this investigation, data from an experimental control group (n = 14), using bilateral variable resistance exercise equipment which enables both concentric and eccentric muscle contractions, and a nonexercise control group (n = 17) were incorporated into the study design. Through a random selection process, subjects were assigned to one of three groups that participated in this 10-week study. Analysis, including univariate and multivariate statistical techniques, revealed no significant changes in strength between the two experimental groups. However, compared with the nonexercise group, there were significant increases in strength in the experimental exercise groups; yet, these increases were significant in both groups only on the right legs. In addition, the development of transient knee pain in two subjects engaged in both concentric and eccentric exercise training required their removal from the study. This finding, in concert with previous experimental evidence of an association between eccentric exercise and the development of transient pain, must be integrated into future studies. Results suggest that further investigation is necessary to reveal the neurologic or biomechanical factors which may result in unequal training stimuli to the limbs with bilateral strength training on various types of equipment.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

An epidemiological study of high school ice hockey injuries.

Between 1976 and 1983, 42 spinal cord injuries among ice hockey participants were documented in Canada; within a recent 3-week period, three cases involving fractured necks were reported in a metropolitan area of Minnesota. The purpose of this comprehensive epidemiological study was to document rates, types, and severities of injuries incurred among high school varsity hockey players in Minnesota, as a result of participation in the 1982-1983 season, and to determine the variables associated with these injuries. Within a 30-mile radius of the state's major metropolitan area, 12 high school varsity hockey teams were selected for participation. Specific techniques were used to ensure confidentiality, high response rates, and validation of information. Among the players an injury rate of 75 injuries per 100 players was documented. Head and neck injuries accounted for 22% of the total injuries. Increased risks of injury were associated with multiple health-care provision variables and equipment utilized. Potential strategies are identified as a result of these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Traumatic amputations in the workplace.

The purpose of this study was to identify variables associated with traumatic amputations in the workplace. Case files of work-related amputations in Minnesota during 1977 were accessed in cooperation with the Workers' Compensation Division of Minnesota. Data analysis was conducted by computer using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Of the 109 amputation cases, a mean age of 31 years (range 16 to 80) was identified; 50% of all cases were below the age of 25 years. By gender, males accounted for five times as many cases as females. Operatives incurred the largest number of amputations (40%); yet, they account for only 14% of the total work force. Manufacturing accounted for a majority (43.4%) of the traumatic amputations while including only 18 percent of the work force. Prevention strategies employed subsequent to the injuries included: training only (32.1%), engineering controls (10.1%), and mixed strategies (3.0%); further analysis revealed that although application of passive controls to the specific source (eg, machine) of the injury would have been most appropriate, training was frequently the only intervention incorporated. Recommendations, including Haddon's strategies for prevention and control of amputations are presented.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1985

Treatment for lateral epicondylitis: variables related to recovery.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a treatment regime utilised for lateral epicondylitis that is designed to expedite return to activity and to identify variables related to treatment outcomes. Patients treated in a sports medicine clinic between 1978 and 1980 received, by mail, a brief questionnaire investigating the variables of the injuries and level of success of the treatment. Specific techniques ensured confidentiality and validation of information. Through the analyses conducted, an inverse relationship in the total group between the level of success and the duration of pain was documented; for example, the mean durations of pain, 17.3 months, 10.3 months, and 6.3 months correlated, respectively, with the levels of success, 0 (no recovery), 2 (moderate recovery), and 4 (complete recovery). In addition, the application of multiple risk factor analysis, incorporating a maximum of eight variables, identified the degree of pain prior to treatment as the most important predictor of complete recovery; the greater the pain the more likely the complete success of the treatments. The implications of these findings include a need for early case-finding to elicit the most favourable outcomes of the treatment regime studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Exercise for optimal health: strategies and motivational considerations.

It appears that most people who engage in exercise for 20-60 min per day, 3 days per week, at an intensity level of 70-80% of maximal heart rate will derive at least some health-related benefits associated with improved cardiorespiratory fitness and optimal body weight. Individuals exhibiting extremely low cardiorespiratory fitness can probably derive benefits from even less exercise, while higher intensity and/or longer duration may be required to optimize some desired changes, particularly in areas associated with metabolic adaptation relative to blood lipids, diabetes, and psychological affect. While there is some evidence that it may take less exercise to maintain fitness levels already attained, a lifelong pattern of regular physical activity is recommended to optimize health-related benefits. Strategies which have been successful in combating high attrition rates in exercise programs include educational efforts to increase the participants' awareness pf exercise benefits; assessment procedures which determine the participants' needs, provide continuous motivational reinforcement, and accurately record improvement; and written contracts which hold participants accountable for reaching realistic goals within specified time periods.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Concussion incidences and severity in secondary school varsity football players.

The head coaches and players of 103 secondary school football teams in Minnesota were asked to respond to mail questionnaires. Information about injury incidence and concomitant health care provision was elicited. Responses from 3,063 players (81 per cent) yielded a total injury rate of 78 injuries/100 players; 19/100 players reported a concussion experience characterized by loss of consciousness and/or loss of awareness. Of the players who experienced a loss of consciousness, 69 per cent were returned to play the same day. Persistent concussion symptoms were reported as long as six to nine months following the end of the season; six cases involved permanent disabilities. Continued use of illegal techniques of butt-blocking and face-tackling by as many as 40 per cent of the players was associated with apparent increased risks of concussions and concussion symptoms. Players with a prior history of loss of consciousness had a risk of loss of consciousness four times that of the player without a prior history.

Athletic Injuries↗