Naslov
Injury risk ski behaviour in helmet wearers and non-wearers.

Autori
Ružić, Lana ; Tudor Anton

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts of XVIII Congress of ISSS Garmisch-Partenkirchen 26.4.-2.5.2009 / Senner, Veit ; Fastenbauer, Verena ; Bohm, Harald - München : Technische Universitet Munchen, 2009, 15-16

Skup
XVIII Congress of International Society for Skiing Safety

Mjesto i datum
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Njemačka, 26.04.2009. - 02.05.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
skiing; injury; risk taking; behaviour

Sažetak
KEY WORDS: risk taking, helmet, skiing style INTRODUCTION: Some forms of skiing behavior are more risky and in terms of the skier's well-being appear to be more dangerous. Self-reported risk taking is not always a good indicator of real risk behavior because it depends on an individuals perception and his psychological profile which determines whether one would perceive his/her style of skiing as risky. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of helmet use in adult skiers and to examine the differences in on-the-snow behavior between the helmet wearers and non-wearers and factors that influenced the decision whether to wear the helmet. METHOD: A survey was administered to Croatian skiers during the season 2008/2009*. The 1st part (9 items) was filled in by all skiers, while the 2nd part (3 items) was filled in only by helmet wearers. The items were multiple choice questions in which they had to chose the answers most suitable for their skiing style (their preferable skiing technique, volume of off-piste skiing, preferences regarding the time-measuring tracks and jumping possibilities, behavior around the group of skiers meaning do they skied preferably alone, leading the group, beside the group and similar). Numeric values representing the level of risk behavior in each question were than adjoined to their answers and the Overall risk index ranging from 6 (low) to 25 (high) was computed. The 2nd part of 3 items comprised questions regarding the reason for choosing helmet, skiing behavior with helmet and question about the feelings related to wearing the helmet. The survey showed acceptable test-retest reliability across 30 days on pilot sample of 50 skiers (r=0.87, p< .001). RESULTS: Results (N=400) indicated that overall risk index determined from 1st part of the questionnaire was higher but not statistically significant in skiers wearing helmets but that could be addressed only to total sample (Overall risk index 15.46&plusmn ; 3.47 vs 14.56&plusmn ; 4.7, p=0.146 ; post hoc Power= 0.848). Significant variations were apparent according to sex (females took fewer risks on the slopes) and according to age which was expected. Male skiers wearing helmets were significantly more prone to &#8220; carving&#8221; technique no matter the conditions of the slope and number of other skiers. They expressed significantly higher interest for time-measuring devices on the slopes as well as for possibility to jump from moguls on the slope. Men under 35 years reported more often that they like to ski alone or lead the group, but did not want to ski in the group behind someone. In self reported behavior 24% of the helmet wearers reported the feeling of increased security and faster skiing with helmet and 75% claimed they skied the same as without helmet. Also 36% of them perceived skiing with helmet as the lower death risk, 27% reported reduced hearing abilities as well as visual impairment (10%). In a multiple linear regression analysis, age, sex, skiing level and helmet use were identified as independent predictors overall risk index (effect size f2= 0.02 ; Power (1- &#61538; err prob) = 0.942). DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that male helmet wearers take more risk while skiing than others. This is not in concordance with the study of Scott et al. (2007) who concluded that there were no evidences of risk compensation among helmet wearers. In our opinion the differences between our and their study originated from the study design. In our study the risk taking was estimated from the series of items analyzing skiing style and it was not self-reported in a way that had to say whether they thought they took risk or not. It is already known that helmet is of small protective value at higher speeds and particularly during the collision with solid object regarding death outcome and risk taking behavior would further decrease its purpose. According to presented results we suggest a need for appropriate educational program or leaflets attached to helmets in the stores clearly stating the amount of protection the helmet could provide in order to minimize risk taking behavior. CONCLUSION: From the limited number of questionnaires (N=400)* analyzed so far, we can conclude that helmet use is one of the factors influencing risk taking on slopes especially in younger male skiers.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA