Author(s):
Krause, J.S.; Li, C.; and Cao, Y.
Project title:
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Translating New Knowledge into Practice to Promote Health and Well-Being after Spinal Cord Injury.
Study target:
Individuals with spinal cord injuries
Study purpose or goal:
This is a tool to help people understand the risk of unintentional injuries among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Unintentional injuries are unplanned and unexpected. Examples include broken bones, dislocations, burns, and cuts. This tool is based on our study of 4670 people with SCI. It focuses on unintentional injuries where one has been injured seriously enough to receive medical care in a clinic, emergency room, or hospital. We will show the probability of having at least one unintentional injury in a 12 month time frame. This is based on identifying how other people with SCI who have completed the same basic questions.
The estimates give a general idea of risk and what places people with SCI at risk for unintentional injuries. They will help people to see how likely, on average, to have an unintentional injury based on a number of factors, including health behaviors. It is based on our research. Findings vary from study to study, so the estimates again are only to give a general idea of an individual’s risk compared to that of others with similar characteristics. It also will help people to see how they can reduce their risk of unintentional injuries.
Who administers this tool?:
Can be self administered.
How is it administered?:
Web-based anonymous form.
What is the scope or what areas does it cover?:
Level of injury, years post injury demographics, use of prescription medications, use of alcohol.
Development methodology:
Our Unintentional Injuries Calculator used the following
factors:
1. Sex
2. Current age
3. Years post-injury
4. Walking status
5. SCI neurological level
6. Race/ethnicity
7. Household income
8. Weight status
9. Alcohol misuse
10. Non-medical substance misuse
11. Frequency of prescription medication usage
12. Prescription medication misuse
Source of data: The data upon which the calculations are based are taken from a study of behavioral factors and unintentional injuries (Cao, DiPiro, Li, Roesler, and Krause, 2019).
Can this tool be used for other purposes/populations?:
Limitations:
There are factors that relate to risk of unintentional injuries that are not accounted for within this formula. We are unable to include other factors because we have used findings from a single study.
Tool URL:
https://chp.musc.edu/research/help/tools/unintentional-injury-calculator
Tool contact:
Melinda Jarnecke, jarnecke@musc.edu