Impaired minds produce actions causing trauma (IMPACT)

 

 

OVERVIEW

Impaired Minds Produce Actions Causing Trauma (IMPACT) is a hospital-based program targeting adolescents to prevent injuries caused by engaging in high-risk behaviors, including consumption of alcohol and/or drugs. An evaluation of the program found impacts on knowledge at the one-week, one-month, and six-month follow-up periods. There was an impact on influencing family and friends about road safety at the one-week follow-up period, but no impacts at the one- and six-month follow-up periods. There were also no impacts on negative driving behaviors at any of the follow-up periods.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

 

Target population: Adolescents

 

Impaired Minds Produce Actions Causing Trauma is primarily a hospital-based program targeting adolescents to prevent injuries caused by impairments through consumption of alcohol and/or drugs. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program is led by a volunteer team of nurses, physicians, police officers, paramedics, and social workers. During the program, participants are walked through the various stages of medical care for trauma patients, and program staff members share their personal experiences with trauma patients as they interact with participants. Six components comprise the program: drug awareness; trauma presentation; mock resuscitation; ICU bedside visit; trauma victim presentation; and follow-up debriefing.

 

The program relies on portraying reality-based situations, rather than preaching to participants. The program begins with staff from the boards of education and police departments providing presentations to increase participants’ awareness of drugs and their consequences, including the legal consequences of drinking and driving and signs of impairment. The Injury Prevention Educator visits schools and provides a trauma presentation focusing on the consequences of high-risk behaviors—such as drinking and driving. On the following day, participants visit an emergency department and witness a mock resuscitation and are then provided with a presentation to increase participants’ awareness of risk of a vehicular crash and injury and decrease their perceptions of invulnerability. Following the emergency department, participants visit the bedside of trauma patients to see the short- and mid-term consequences of risk taking and injury. Next, participants meet with a trauma victim and discuss the short-, mid-, and long-term consequences of injury; this meeting provides a personalized account of someone’s injury and its consequences. And finally, one day after the program, a trauma social worker leads a follow-up debriefing with participants to reinforce messages from the program and to answer any questions.

 

Apart from healthcare professionals, the program costs approximately $50,000 (in 2002-2003), which covers program coordination, volunteer incentives, as well as other costs.

 

 

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

 

Stewart TC, Polgar D, Girotti MJ, Vingilis E, Caro D, Corbet BA, Parry N (2009). Evaluation of an Adolescent Hospital-based Injury Prevention Program. Journal of Trauma, 66:1451-1460.

 

Evaluated population: A total of 269 11^th grade students enrolled in seven schools in Thames Valley, Ontario, Canada, participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 16 years and approximately one-half had some type of driver’s license. There was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of boys enrolled in the intervention group compared with the control group; however, gender was controlled for in the regression analyses when assessing programmatic impacts. There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control group in terms of their driving characteristics (time with license, driving frequency, previously taken a driver’s education program).

 

Approach: The program randomly assigned participants to the intervention group (n=129) or to the control group (n=140). Participants completed a questionnaire at four points in time: baseline, as well as one week, one month, and six months after the intervention. Using validated instruments, questionnaires measured demographic characteristics, driving and license information, negative driving behaviors, driving infractions, alcohol and drug use, alcohol-related crash experience, and drinking and driving knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors.

 

Results: There were significant impacts on crash and impairment knowledge at the one-week, one-month, and six-month follow-up periods. There was an impact on reporting they tried to influence family and friends about road safety at the one-week follow-up period (effect size=.36), but no impacts at the one- and six-month follow-up periods. There were also no significant impacts on negative driving behaviors at the one-week, one-month, and six-month follow-up periods.

 

 

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

For more information about the IMPACT program and its history, please visit:

http://www.lhsc.on.ca/About_Us/Trauma/Trauma_Prevention_Programs/IMPACT/index.htm

 

http://www.lhsc.on.ca/About_Us/Trauma/Trauma_Prevention_Programs/IMPACT/Program_History.htm

 

References

 

Stewart TC, Polgar D, Girotti MJ, Vingilis E, Caro D, Corbet BA, Parry N (2009). Evaluation of an Adolescent Hospital-based Injury Prevention Program. Journal of Trauma, 66:1451-1460.

 

 

 

SUMMARY & CATEGORIZATION

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant age: Adolescents (12-17), Youth (16+)

 

Program component: Clinic-based, School-based

 

Measured outcomes: Physical health

 

 

KEYWORDS: Adolescents (12-17), Youth (16+), Clinic-based, School-based, Seatbelt Use, Alcohol Use, Marijuana/Illicit/Prescription Drugs, Any Substance Use, Co-ed, Cost

 

 

Program information last updated 2/23/10.

 

 

 

		© Child Trends 2004