BACKGROUND: Exposure to violence predisposes youths to future violent behavior. Breaking the cycle of violence in inner cities is the primary objective of hospital-based violence intervention and prevention programs. An evaluation was undertaken to determine if a hospital-based, peer intervention program, "Caught in the Crossfire," reduces the risk of criminal justice involvement, decreases hospitalizations from traumatic reinjury, diminishes death from intentional violent trauma, and is cost effective. STUDY DESIGN: We designed a retrospective cohort study conducted between January 1998 and June 2003 at a university-based urban trauma center. The duration of followup was 18 months. Patients were 12 to 20 years of age and were hospitalized for intentional violent trauma. The "enrolled" group had a minimum of five interactions with an intervention specialist. The control group was selected from the hospital database by matching age, gender, race or ethnicity, type of injury, and year of admission. All patients came from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. RESULTS: The total sample size was 154 patients. Participation in the hospital-based peer intervention program lowered the risk of criminal justice involvement (relative risk=0.67; 95% CI, 0.45, 0.99; p=0.04). There was no effect on risks of reinjury and death. Subsequent violent criminal behavior was reduced by 7% (p=0.15). Logistic regression analysis showed age had a confounding effect on the association between program participation and criminal justice involvement (relative risk=0.71; p=0.043). When compared with juvenile detention center costs, the total cost reduction derived from the intervention program annually was $750,000 to $1.5 million. CONCLUSIONS: This hospital-based peer intervention program reduces the risk of criminal justice system involvement, is more effective with younger patients, and is cost effective. Any effect on reinjury and death will require a larger sample size and longer followup.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to violence predisposes youths to future violent behavior. Breaking the cycle of violence in inner cities is the primary objective of hospital-based violence intervention and prevention programs. An evaluation was undertaken to determine if a hospital-based, peer intervention program, "Caught in the Crossfire," reduces the risk of criminal justice involvement, decreases hospitalizations from traumatic reinjury, diminishes death from intentional violent trauma, and is cost effective. STUDY DESIGN: We designed a retrospective cohort study conducted between January 1998 and June 2003 at a university-based urban trauma center. The duration of followup was 18 months. Patients were 12 to 20 years of age and were hospitalized for intentional violent trauma. The "enrolled" group had a minimum of five interactions with an intervention specialist. The control group was selected from the hospital database by matching age, gender, race or ethnicity, type of injury, and year of admission. All patients came from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. RESULTS: The total sample size was 154 patients. Participation in the hospital-based peer intervention program lowered the risk of criminal justice involvement (relative risk=0.67; 95% CI, 0.45, 0.99; p=0.04). There was no effect on risks of reinjury and death. Subsequent violent criminal behavior was reduced by 7% (p=0.15). Logistic regression analysis showed age had a confounding effect on the association between program participation and criminal justice involvement (relative risk=0.71; p=0.043). When compared with juvenile detention center costs, the total cost reduction derived from the intervention program annually was $750,000 to $1.5 million. CONCLUSIONS: This hospital-based peer intervention program reduces the risk of criminal justice system involvement, is more effective with younger patients, and is cost effective. Any effect on reinjury and death will require a larger sample size and longer followup.
Authors: Patrick M Carter; Aaron D Dora-Laskey; Jason E Goldstick; Justin E Heinze; Maureen A Walton; Marc A Zimmerman; Jessica S Roche; Rebecca M Cunningham Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2018-10-19 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Adam L Sharp; Lisa A Prosser; Maureen Walton; Frederic C Blow; Stephen T Chermack; Marc A Zimmerman; Rebecca Cunningham Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-02-10 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Megan L Ranney; John V Patena; Shira Dunsiger; Anthony Spirito; Rebecca M Cunningham; Edward Boyer; Nicole R Nugent Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2019-05-23 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Alison J Culyba; Elizabeth Miller; Kenneth R Ginsburg; Charles C Branas; Wensheng Guo; Joel A Fein; Therese S Richmond; Bonnie L Halpern-Felsher; Douglas J Wiebe Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Patrick M Carter; Charles A Mouch; Jason E Goldstick; Maureen A Walton; Marc A Zimmerman; Ken Resnicow; Rebecca M Cunningham Journal: Prev Med Date: 2019-11-11 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Jane Liebschutz; Sonia Schwartz; Joel Hoyte; Lauren Conoscenti; Anthony B Christian; Leroy Muhammad; Derrick Harper; Thea James Journal: J Trauma Date: 2010-12
Authors: Steven D Langerman; Gia M Badolato; Alexandra Rucker; Lenore Jarvis; Shilpa J Patel; Monika K Goyal Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2019-07-31 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Elinore Kaufman; Kristin Rising; Douglas J Wiebe; David J Ebler; Marie L Crandall; M Kit Delgado Journal: Am J Emerg Med Date: 2016-06-15 Impact factor: 2.469