Funded Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs)

Project Title: West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center
Grant Number: CE001170
Project Period: 08/01/2007 - 07/31/2012
Description: See funded ICRCs page for more information.

Project Title: Determining the Incidence, Severity, Cost, and Psychosocial Impact of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)–related Injuries
Project Period: 09/30/04- 09/29/07
Description: Although sound injury mortality data is available in West Virginia, a standardized, reliable, and accurate surveillance system for nonfatal injuries did not exist in the state until mandated in 2003. The ascertainment of nonfatal injuries is particularly important concerning injuries resulting from ATV crashes, where West Virginia led the nation in population-based and sales-based death rates throughout the 1990s. From a statewide perspective, fatal injuries resulting from ATV crashes have been described fairly accurately in terms of demographics and epidemiology, but comparable information for survivors of ATV crashes has generally not been available, except from the larger trauma centers in the state. However, even these data were inconsistent and often not comparable from one hospital to another.

The development and implementation of the newly state-mandated TEMIS system will provide near real-time EMS, communication, treatment, cost of care, and disposition information about all patients receiving care in the nearly 70 emergency departments (EDs) and trauma centers throughout West Virginia. The goal of this project will be to access TEMIS (through the West Virginia University Hospital ED and Level 1 Trauma Center) as the primary data source to comprehensively identify and describe ATV incidents (both fatal and nonfatal) and collect valuable epidemiological information that follows the victim (patient) from the crash scene, through definitive care, to final disposition. Specific aims of the study are to (1) describe common event demographics; (2) provide an epidemiological profile of the patient and a description of their injuries; (3) describe the burden of ATV injuries in terms of incidence, cost, and psychological impact; (4) provide data to facilitate the monitoring of ATV-specific objectives in the WV Healthy People 2010 plan; and (5) provide data to inform and educate public health officials and state lawmakers.

Project Title: Safety Helmet Use and Rider Habits
Project Period: 09/30/04- 09/29/06
Description: This project will determine the public’s knowledge about required helmet use, their perceptions of risk, and riding habits associated with ATV use in West Virginia. Investigators will conduct a statewide survey about ATV use and riding among a sample of randomly selected West Virginia residents. The survey will address their knowledge of helmets and protective gear, exposure and risk, and regulations and training for operators, especially young adults and youth 16 and under.

Specific aims are to:
1. Ascertain public awareness of safety guidelines, training, hazards, and perceived risks to ATV riders/operators, particularly among children 16 and younger.
2. Determine ATV helmet use, ATV use and operator habits, operator training, and exposure among ATV operators and riders.
3. Determine if ATV riders and operators under 16 regularly receive operator training; use protective gear and helmets; use appropriate ATV machines, and operate or ride on public roadways, private lands, or preserved recreational areas.

Project Title: Assessing the Impact of a Training Video on Reducing Injuries among West Virginia Loggers
Project Period: 09/30/04- 09/29/07
Description: This project’s goal is to determine if workers’ compensation claim rates have decreased as a result of WVDOF logging industry safety initiatives. Specifically, the project will (1) use WV claims data to describe the occurrence and epidemiology of injury before and after a training video module was incorporated in the logger certification program; (2) determine if the training video module influenced injury trend, rates, and costs; and (3) evaluate the impact of the training video intervention on cost of injury (medical and disability) and rates of disability (temporary total and permanent partial disability).