Strategies and goals of community-based injury prevention programmes –  a mixed-methods study of 25 Scandinavian WHO Safe Communities

Abstract

Documentation and analysis of prevention goals and interventions employed by community-based injury prevention programmes is vital to advance the knowledge and understanding of synergistic multi-strategy injury prevention programmes. This study examined the goals and interventions of 25 Scandinavian community-based injury prevention programmes in WHO-designated Safe Communities. Collection and analysis of quantitative data from survey questionnaires to the programme coordinators was followed by collection and analysis of qualitative data from structured interviews with programme coordinators from eight of the programmes. The results demonstrated that the programmes under study predominantly relied on ‘intuitive’ and subjective methods for selecting interventions. The programmes largely failed to transform injury surveillance data into information and knowledge that could prioritize community safety strategies and measures, due to insufficient time and personnel resources. The results demonstrated the importance of combining passive approaches with active interventions. Educational efforts were considered essential to the programmes. The programmes preferred to rely on broadly stated goals rather than specific objectives.

Keywords:

• Strategies
• Measures
• Goals
• Objectives

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish National Rescue Services Board. Sincere thanks to Lennart Nordenfelt and Toomas Timpka for comments on earlier drafts of this paper.