The Harstad injury prevention study: hospital-based injury recording used for outcome evaluation of community-based prevention of bicyclist and pedestrian injury.

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of a hospital-based injury recording for accident analysis and outcome evaluation of bicyclist and pedestrian injury prevention.
DESIGN: Prospective injury recording lasting 7 1/2 years, using a quasi-experimental design.
SETTING: The population of Harstad (22,000). INTERVENTION: Injury data were evaluated in an injury prevention group and used in planning a community-based intervention. Promotion of bicyclist helmet use and pedestrian safe behaviour was implemented by activating public and voluntary organizations and media. A traffic safety pamphlet containing local traffic injury data was distributed. Changes were made in the physical traffic environment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury rates for bicyclists and pedestrians.
RESULTS: In 275 bicyclists upper extremity and head injuries were predominant 70% were below 16 years. In 137 pedestrians lower extremity injury was most frequent and children below 10 years had the highest injury rates. Significant injury rate reductions were observed after intervention for child bicyclists and pedestrians.
CONCLUSION: A hospital-based injury recording is feasible for bicyclists and pedestrian accident analysis, planning injury prevention, and outcome evaluation of the programme. This study indicates that a significant injury rate reduction in children may have been the result of the intervention.