Prevention Measures (prevention + measure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Use of Malaria Prevention Measures by North American and European Travelers to East Africa

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2001
Hans O. Lobel
Background: The use of preventive measures, including effective chemoprophylaxis, is essential for protection against malaria among travelers. However, data have shown that travelers and medical advisors are confused by the lack of uniform recommendations and numerous prophylactic regimens of varying effectiveness that are used. Methods: To assess the use and type of preventive measures against malaria, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 1997 among travelers departing from the Nairobi and Mombasa airports in Kenya with European destinations. Results: Seventy-five percent of the travelers studied were residents of Europe and 25% were residents of North America; all stayed less than 1 year, and visited malarious areas. Most travelers, 97.1%, were aware of the risk and 91.3% sought pretravel medical advice. Although 95.4% used chemoprophylaxis and/or antimosquito measures, only 61.7% used both regular chemoprophylaxis and two or more antimosquito measures. Compliance with chemoprophylaxis was lowest amongst those who used a drug with a daily, as opposed to, a weekly dosing schedule, stayed more than 1 month, attributed an adverse health event to the chemoprophylaxis, and were less than 40 years of age. Among US travelers, 94.6% of those taking chemoprophylaxis were taking an effective regimen, that is, mefloquine or doxycycline. Only 1.9% used a suboptimal drug regimen, such as chloroquine/proguanil. Among European travelers, 69% used mefloquine or doxycycline, and 25% used chloroquine/proguanil. Notably, 45.3% of travelers from the UK used chloroquine/proguanil. Adverse events were noted by 19.7% of mefloquine users and 16.4% of travelers taking chloroquine/proguanil. Neuropsychologic adverse events were reported by 7.8% of users of mefloquine and 1.9% of those taking chloroquine/proguanil. The adverse events, however, had a lesser impact on compliance than frequent dosing schedule. Conclusions: Health information should be targeted to travelers who are likely to use suboptimal chemoprophylaxis or may be noncompliant with prophylaxis. Uniform recommendations for effective chemoprophylaxis with simple dosing schedules are necessary to reduce rates of malaria among travelers to Africa. [source]


From the Prevention Measures to the Fact-finding Mission

MUSEUM INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3-4 2003
McGuire Gibson
[source]


Where is help sought for depression or suicidal ideation in an elderly population living in a rural area of Japan?

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2004
SHINJI SAKAMOTO phd
Abstract, Although suicide is increasingly becoming a social problem in Japan, especially among the elderly, little early intervention or suicide prevention is done. A project was begun which, since 1999, has aimed to detect depression at an early stage as a suicide prevention measure in a model area of Town A, which had a high suicide rate. In order to promote early intervention and prevention in a community, it is important to know where residents seek help if they become depressed or have suicidal ideation. Therefore, in the present study, help-seeking behavior using case vignettes was investigated. Data from 230 residents (82 men, 148 women) in the model area of Town A, aged 65 or over, were analyzed in the present study. If participants were unable to answer by themselves due to physical condition, public health nurses read out each item and wrote in their answers. The relationship between help-seeking behavior and demographic variables, psychosocial variables, depressive symptoms and so forth, were examined. The results show that participation in mental health workshops facilitated consultation with specialists (e.g. primary care doctors and nurses). The expected effects of psychoeducation on the general public and specialists were considered. [source]


PALLIATIVE CARE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND JUSTICE: SETTING PRIORITIES IN RESOURCE POOR COUNTRIES

DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 3 2009
CRAIG BLINDERMAN
ABSTRACT Many countries have not considered palliative care a public health problem. With limited resources, disease-oriented therapies and prevention measures take priority. In this paper, I intend to describe the moral framework for considering palliative care as a public health priority in resource-poor countries. A distributive theory of justice for health care should consider integrative palliative care as morally required as it contributes to improving normal functioning and preserving opportunities for the individual. For patients requiring terminal care, we are guided less by principles of justice and more by the duty to relieve suffering and society's commitment to protecting the professional's obligation to uphold principles of beneficence, compassion and non-abandonment. A fair deliberation process is necessary to allow these strong moral commitments to serve as reasons when setting priorities in resource poor countries. [source]


Drug classification: science, politics, both or neither?

ADDICTION, Issue 7 2010
Harold Kalant
ABSTRACT Governments currently classify illicit drugs for various purposes: to guide courts in the sentencing of convicted violators of drug control laws, to prioritize targets of prevention measures and to educate the public about relative risks of the various drugs. It has been proposed that classification should be conducted by scientists and drug experts rather than by politicians, so that it will reflect only accurate factual knowledge of drug effects and risks rather than political biases. Although this is an appealing goal, it is inherently impossible because rank-ordering of the drugs inevitably requires value judgements concerning the different types of harm. Such judgements, even by scientists, depend upon subjective personal criteria and not only upon scientific facts. Moreover, classification that is meant to guide the legal system in controlling dangerous drug use can function only if it is in harmony with the values and sentiments of the public. In some respects, politicians may be better attuned to public attitudes and wishes, and to what policies the public will support, than are scientific experts. The problems inherent in such drug classification are illustrated by the examples of cannabis and of salvinorin A. They raise the question as to whether the classification process really serves any socially beneficial purpose. [source]


Oral cavity cancer in developed and in developing countries: Population-based incidence

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 3 2010
Marianna de Camargo Cancela DDS
Abstract Background. The incidence of oral cavity cancer (OCC) is not well documented because it is rarely described in accord with the anatomic definition but is usually grouped with oropharyngeal subsites. We studied the incidence of OCC in developed and in developing countries. Methods. The age-standardized and age-specific incidence rates of OCC were calculated for the period 1998-2002, using the topographic definition used by the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC), based on data from CI5-IX. Results. The highest rates are observed in Pakistan, Brazil, India, and France and were consistent with country-specific risk factors and their prevalence. Conclusions. In developing countries, people are exposed to a wider range of risk factors, starting at younger ages, and primary prevention measures and policies are needed. Awareness of professionals must be improved to identify people at risk and target them for prevention and to minimize the consequences of OCC. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010 [source]


An outbreak of HBV and HCV infection in a paediatric oncology ward: Epidemiological investigations and prevention of further spread

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2003
Uga Dumpis
Abstract Hospital-acquired hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections continue to occur despite increased awareness of this problem among the medical community. One hundred six patients were infected in a haematology oncology ward for children, over the time period 1996 to 2000. Serum samples from 45 such patients and 3 from infected medical personnel were used for nucleic acid amplification. HBV core, as well as HCV core and hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) nucleotide sequences, were analysed by phylogenetic tree analysis, in order to characterise the epidemiological pattern of viral transmission on the ward. Samples from 32 patients were positive for HBV-DNA or HCV-RNA by PCR. Ten patients were positive for both markers. Seventeen out of twenty-three HCV core gene sequences were found to be evolutionarily related and clustered separately from other local sequences in the phylogenetic tree, indicating nosocomial transmission. This was confirmed by analysis of HVR1 gene sequences. One nurse and one physician from the ward were HCV RNA positive, but their HCV sequences were not related evolutionarily to those of the patient cluster. Fifteen out of nineteen HBV core gene sequences were also clustered together and were positioned separately in the relevant tree. Epidemiological investigation excluded a common source infection and indicated that spread of infection was most likely due to inappropriate infection control measures on the ward. No obvious risk factors for transmission were identified during the retrospective survey in patients with related sequences, except use of multidose vials for saline and poor staff compliance with routine hand hygiene procedures. The preventive measures that were introduced reduced the incidence of infection significantly. No new cases of HBV infection and only three anti-HCV seroconversions occurred over a period of 19 months. The introduction and maintenance of strict prevention measures over a 2 year period, combined with HBV vaccination, reduced significantly the incidence of new HCV and HBV infections. J. Med. Virol. 69:331,338, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Correlates of specific childhood feeding problems

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 4 2003
D Field
Objective: The correlates of specific childhood feeding problems are described to further examine possible predisposing factors for feeding problems. We report our experience with 349 participants evaluated by an interdisciplinary feeding team. Methods: A review of records was conducted and each participant was identified as having one or more of five functionally defined feeding problems: food refusal, food selectivity by type, food selectivity by texture, oral motor delays, or dysphagia. The prevalence of predisposing factors for these feeding problems was examined. Predisposing factors included developmental disabilities, gastrointestinal problems, cardiopulmonary problems, neurological problems, renal disease and anatomical anomalies. Results: The frequencies of predisposing factors varied by feeding problem. Differences were found in the prevalence of the five feeding problems among children with three different developmental disabilities: autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Gastro-oesophageal reflux was the most prevalent condition found among all children in the sample and was the factor most often associated with food refusal. Neurological conditions and anatomical anomalies were highly associated with skill deficits, such as oral motor delays and dysphagia. Conclusions: Specific medical conditions and developmental disabilities are often associated with certain feeding problems. Information concerning predisposing factors of feeding problems can help providers employ appropriate primary, secondary and tertiary prevention measures to decrease the frequency or severity of some feeding problems. [source]


Alcohol is the Main Factor in Excess Traffic Accident Fatalities in France

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 12 2002
Michel Reynaud
Background The aim of this study was to better evaluate the role of alcohol drinking in fatalities linked to road traffic accidents. Methods The data of accidents were collected by a French official agency from police records, including many variables, among which was a blood alcohol test. They were analyzed in a descriptive way and toward a logistic regression. This exhaustive database comprised all of the 500,961 accidents with casualties that involved less than three vehicles (28,506 fatal accidents) recorded in France during a 52 month period (September 1995 to December 1999). The results of the alcohol tests were known in 78.7 of the drivers. Results The blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit (0.50 g/L in France) in 9.8% of the accidents with casualties overall. Considering only fatal accidents, the rate of positive alcohol test in drivers was approximately 31.5%. This rate varied depending on the period and the type of accident, raising up to 71.2% in single-vehicle accidents (loss of control) at night during the weekend. The percentage of positive alcohol tests also dramatically increased following the number of fatalities per accident (87.5% in single-vehicle accidents during weekend nights involving three or more killed). The logistic regression in single-vehicle accident shows that the higher odds ratios concern the positive blood alcohol test (OR = 4.19), clearly overwhelming the other precipitating factors of accidents (age of driver, meteorological conditions, time of day, and other factors). Conclusions Drinking alcohol before driving is a well known factor of accidents. We clearly demonstrate here that it is the main factor leading to deaths linked to road traffic accidents in France. The results are strengthened, and some analyses are allowed, by the exceptional features of our database. The authors emphasize the need for prevention measures. [source]


Many asthma patients experience persistent symptoms despite appropriate clinical and guideline-based treatment with inhaled corticosteroids

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 9 2007
Joan Mogil MSN, NP-C (Nurse Practitioner)
Abstract Purpose: To review possible reasons for persistence of asthma symptoms despite appropriate use of clinical and guideline-based treatments, including the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Data sources: Review of the worldwide scientific literature on factors related to persistent symptoms in patients with asthma. Conclusions: Patients with asthma may not respond as expected to therapy because of factors that include poor adherence, improper inhaler technique, persistent exposure to symptom triggers, and limitations of current standard therapy, including steroid insensitivity or the steroid plateau effect. Persistent symptoms may also be associated with IgE-mediated airway inflammation, as current standard asthma therapies do not directly address the IgE-mediated component of the inflammatory cascade. Asthma is a complex disease and its treatment requires the full cooperation and participation of the patient. Implications for practice: Healthcare professionals can play a key role by educating patients and their family members about the nature of asthma and rationale for treatment, supporting the importance of strict adherence to prevention measures and the prescribed treatment regimen. [source]


The Identification of Alcohol Intoxication by Police

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2001
John Brick
Background: The identification of alcohol intoxication by police, bartenders, social hosts, and potential passengers is an important issue in the prevention of alcohol-related driving accidents. This study examines the ability of police officers to correctly identify and make ratings of the sobriety of target drinkers presented on video. Methods: Raters were asked to determine (1) whether the target drinker had been drinking alcohol, (2) whether it was "okay" to serve the target another drink, and (3) whether the target drinker was "okay" to drive. A rater confidence score for each target evaluated, as well as demographic characteristics about the raters, was obtained. Results: Drinkers were accurately targeted to low (0.08,0.09%), medium (0.11,0.13%), and high (0.15,0.16%) blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) by using a method previously described. At lower BACs, most police officers were unable to identify whether or not targets had been drinking. Raters were "pretty sure" that targets in the 0.15,0.16% range had been drinking and "not sure" whether or not they should be served another drink or drive a car. Conclusions: The ability of raters to reliably identify target drinkers who were too intoxicated to drive safely was not obtained until the BACs were relatively high. These results suggest that prevention measures must focus on improving behavioral observations made of potential drunk drivers. Implications for bartenders and social hosts are discussed. [source]


Travel-Associated Dengue Infections in the United States, 1996 to 2005

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010
Hamish P. Mohammed PhD
Background. As the incidence of dengue increases globally, US travelers to endemic areas may be at an increased risk of travel-associated dengue. Methods. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's laboratory-based Passive Dengue Surveillance System (PDSS) were used to describe trends in travel-associated dengue reported from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2005. The PDSS relies on provider-initiated requests for diagnostic testing of serum samples via state health departments. A case of travel-associated dengue was defined as a laboratory-positive dengue infection in a resident of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia who had been in a dengue-endemic area within 14 days before symptom onset. Dengue infection was confirmed by serologic and virologic techniques. Results. One thousand one hundred and ninety-six suspected travel-associated dengue cases were reported,334 (28%) were laboratory-positive, 597 (50%) were laboratory-negative, and 265 (22%) were laboratory-indeterminate. The incidence of laboratory-positive cases varied from 1996 to 2005, but had an overall increase with no significant trend (53.5 to 121.3 per 108 US travelers, p = 0.36). The most commonly visited regions were the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, and Asia. The median age of laboratory-positive cases was 37 years (range: <1 to 75 y) and 166 (50%) were male. Of the 334 laboratory-positive cases, 41 (12%) were hospitalized, and 2 (1%) died. Conclusions. Residents of the US traveling to dengue-endemic regions are at risk of dengue infection and need to be instructed on appropriate prevention measures prior to travel. Especially in light of the potential transmissibility of dengue virus via blood transfusion, consistent reporting of travel-associated dengue infections is essential. [source]


Increased Ventricular Ectopic Activity in Relation to C-Reactive Protein, and NT-Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Subjects With No Apparent Heart Disease

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 11 2006
AHMAD SAJADIEH M.D.
Background: Subjects with frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPC) and no apparent heart disease make a heterogenic group with regard to prognosis. Some biomarkers have recently proved useful in risk stratification in different heart diseases. We examined prognostic impact of NT-Pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-Pro BNP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in relation to frequent VPC in subjects with no apparent heart disease. Methods: Six hundred seventy-eight healthy subjects between 55 and 75 years of age with no history of cardiovascular disease were included in the study. All were tested with fasting laboratory testing and 48-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring. Frequent VPC was defined as VPC ,30/hour. Results: In 56 subjects (8%) with frequent VPC the prognosis was much poorer compared to those without frequent VPC (Hazard ratio and 95% CI: 2.3;1.2,4.4, P = 0.01), after adjustment for conventional risk factors. In subjects with frequent VPC increased levels of CRP (above 2.5 ,g/mL) was the only factor among the tested biomarkers, which was associated with a poor prognosis. Taking subjects without frequent VPC as reference, the hazard ratio and 95% CI for subjects with frequent VPC and increased CRP was 3.6;1.8,7.1, P = 0.0004, and for those with frequent VPC and normal CRP 0.8;0.2,3.5, P = 0.83, after correction for conventional risk factors. Conclusions: Among middle-aged and elderly subjects with no apparent heart disease and frequent VPCs, a CRP value ,2.5 ,g/mL is associated with a significantly higher risk of death and acute myocardial infarction. These subjects deserve primary prevention measures and further work up for structural heart disease. [source]


Changes in the timing of SIDS deaths in 1989 and 1999: indirect evidence of low homicide prevalence among reported cases

PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Harold A. Pollack
Summary An unknown proportion of cases diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are misdiagnosed, and in some cases are homicides. Because recent SIDS prevention measures were unlikely to reduce homicides, changes in the reported timing of SIDS cases provide an indirect measure of covert homicides in this group. This paper uses United States vital statistics microdata to explore these questions. The sample includes all reported infant deaths to singletons with birthweight > 500 g in the 1989 and 1999 US birth cohorts. Deaths attributed to SIDS (n = 7708), homicide (n = 597), or object inhalation and mechanical suffocation (n = 860) are specifically examined. If reported SIDS cases were a mixture of ,true' cases and misdiagnosed homicides, it is hypothesised that the age-at-death distribution of SIDS deaths would have changed to reflect greater prevalence of misdiagnosed homicide. We find that the age-at-death distribution of reported SIDS cases was virtually unchanged in the two cohorts, showing no increase during periods of infancy when relative homicide risk is most pronounced. One cannot reject the hypothesis that the timing was drawn from the same distribution ( = 62.2, P = 0.157). Analogous results hold for infants born in circumstances associated with high homicide risk ( = 61.5, P = 0.12). The stable age-at-death distribution of reported SIDS cases between 1989 and 1999 suggests that covert homicides are a small fraction of reported SIDS cases. [source]


Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (WR-CTS) in Massachusetts, 1992,1997: Source of WR-CTS, outcomes, and employer intervention practices,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2004
Helen Wellman MS
Abstract Background The Massachusetts Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (MASS SENSOR) receives reports of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (WR-CTS) cases from (1) workers' compensation (WC) disability claims for 5 or more lost work days; and (2) physician reports (PR). Methods From 1992 through 1997, 1,330 WC cases and 571 PR cases completed follow-back surveys to provide information on industry, occupation, attributed source of WR-CTS, outcomes, and employer intervention practices. Results Sixty-four percent of the respondents had bilateral CTS and 61% had surgery, both of which were proportionally more frequent among WC cases. Office and business machinery was the leading source of WR-CTS (42% of classifiable sources) in every economic sector except construction, followed by hand tools (20%). Managers and professional specialty workers were the most likely to report employers' interventions and were up to four times more likely to report equipment or work environment changes than higher risk groups. Conclusions State-based surveillance data on the source of WR-CTS provided valuable information on how and where to implement interventions. New occurrences of WR-CTS are likely, especially in the highest risk industries where very few cases reported primary prevention measures (e.g., changes to equipment or work environment) implemented by their employers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:139,152, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Yield of systematic transcranial doppler in patients with transient ischemic attack

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Elena Meseguer MD
Objective Urgent evaluation and treatment of transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients in a dedicated TIA clinic may reduce the 90-day stroke risk by 80%. ABCD2 (Age, Blood pressure, Clinical features, Duration, Diabetes) score and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities help to identify patients at high risk of stroke. Our aim was to determine whether the use of transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination on arrival at the TIA clinic yields additional information that facilitates the identification of patients at high risk of stroke recurrence. Methods Between January 2003 and December 2007, 1,881 patients were admitted to SOS-TIA clinic (a TIA clinic with around-the-clock access). Clinical and vascular assessment included TCD performed by a neurologist immediately after admission. Stroke prevention measures were initiated on arrival, in accordance with guidelines. All patients were followed for 1 year after presentation to the SOS-TIA clinic. Results A total of 1,823 TCD examinations were performed within 4 hours of admission. Intracranial narrowing or occlusion was found in 8.8% of patients, and was independently associated with age, hypertension, and diabetes. After 1-year follow-up on best preventive therapy, the incidence of recurrent vascular events (intracranial revascularization for TIA recurrence, stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death combined) was 7.0% in patients with intracranial narrowing or occlusion and 2.4% in those without (log-rank, p = 0.007). The hazard ratio of combined outcome for the presence of intracranial narrowing or occlusion was 2.29 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.56; p = 0.02) in multivariate analysis including age, gender, hypertension, and diabetes, and was 2.50 (95%CI, 1.24,5.05; p = 0.01) in multivariate analysis including ABCD2 score ,4. Interpretation Immediate TCD examination on arrival at the TIA clinic is feasible and could help to identify patients at high risk of vascular events recurrence. This study supports a systematic intracranial vascular examination in the initial management of TIA. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:9,17 [source]


Home safety assessment in the prevention of falls among older people

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 5 2000
Nancye Peel
Objective:Home safety assessment was examined as part of a randomised trial of falls prevention interventions among older community dwellers. Method:Falls prevention strategies, including education and awareness-raising, exercise, home modifications and medical assessment, were trialled with 252 members of the National Seniors Association. Falls outcomes were monitored using a daily calendar diary during intervention and follow-up periods. Results:The home assessment group was significantly more likely to modify their home environment than the controls (p<0.0001). Participants, regardless of group allocation, reported a significant reduction in concern about falling (p<0.0001). During the intervention, the home assessment group had lower incidence rates for falls and injuries than the control group, although differences were not significant. The lowered rates were sustained post-intervention. Conclusions:While the effect on falls incidence of a home safety intervention on its own could not be demonstrated, other benefits, including improved confidence attributable to awareness of such falls prevention measures, were recorded. Implication:The null effects of home modifications on falls prevention in this study may indicate that the program is more appropriate for the frail aged. [source]


Farm-related fatal injury of young and older adults in Australia, 1989,1992

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2002
Rebecca J. Mitchell
Abstract: This paper describes the types of, and circumstances surrounding, unintentional farm-related fatal injuries involving young and older adults in Australia. Information was obtained from an inspection of coronial files for the period 1989,1992. Around 14% of all farm-related fatalities in Australia during 1989,1992 were of young adults aged 15,24 years and approximately one-quarter were of older adults aged , 55 years. Young adults were commonly fatally injured in motor vehicle incidents and in incidents involving firearms. Tractors were the most common agent involved in fatal incidents involving older adults. Intervention measures to prevent fatalities of older adults in agriculture should focus on the safe use of tractors, while for young adults it appears prevention efforts should centre around safe use of firearms and operation of motor vehicles on the farm. Ways to overcome barriers to the use of injury prevention measures in rural Australia should be further explored. [source]


FARM-RELATED FATAL INJURY OF YOUNG AND OLDER ADULTS IN AUSTRALIA, 1989,1992

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2002
Rebecca J. Mitchell
ABSTRACT: This paper describes the types of, and circumstances surrounding, unintentional farm-related fatal injuries involving young and older adults in Australia. Information was obtained from an inspection of coronial files for the period 1989,1992. Around 14% of all farm-related fatalities in Australia during 1989,1992 were of young adults aged 15,24 years and approximately one-quarter were of older adults aged? 55 years. Young adults were commonly fatally injured in motor vehicle incidents and in incidents involving firearms. Tractors were the most common agent involved in fatal incidents involving older adults. Intervention measures to prevent fatalities of older adults in agriculture should focus on the safe use of tractors, while for young adults it appears prevention efforts should centre around safe use of firearms and operation of motor vehicles on the farm. Ways to overcome barriers to the use of injury prevention measures in rural Australia should be further explored. [source]