Participation in an Employee Fitness Program

Between September 1, 1981, and August 31, 1986, a total of 350 agricultural fatalities were identified in Minnesota; 82% were identified through death certificate data and 67% through the Newspaper Clipping Service. Differences in reporting between the two data sources were noted for gender, age, injury type, anatomical site, source, mechanism of injury, and multiple versus single injury. If only death certificates had been utilized, 18% of the fatalities would have been missed. Although it is apparent that death certificate data have an advantage over the Newspaper Clipping Service data for fatality reporting of specific variables, this study revealed that death certificate surveillance alone will miss mortality data and detection of certain potential risk factors. Suggestions for improving surveillance of agricultural fatalities are identified. However, until relevant changes are made, it will be essential to use a combination of data sources that include the Newspaper Clipping Service to identify agricultural injury fatalities accurately.

ployee fitness program. Of all 236 employees who started participating in the program the determinants of level of participation (high adherence, low adherence, and dropouts) during the program were studied by means of a pretest and posttest design. The questionnaire was based on different theoretical concepts. The determinants measured included the attitude toward an employee fitness program, self-efficacy expectation, and social support. The results show that there were no differences in determinants between the groups at the start of the program. During the second measurement the high-and-low adherence groups were most convinced of the benefits of participation in the program. The low-adherence group and the dropouts were least convinced of their ability to participate in a fitness program. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Public

Suicide and Occupational: a Review of the Literature. P. A. Boxer, C. Burnett, N. Swanson. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 37(4), April 1995.

Why Are Most Drowning Victims Men? Sex Differences in Aquatic Skills and Behaviors. J. Howland, R. Hingson, 7: Mangione, N. Bell, S. Bak. American Journal of Public Health, 86(I), 93-96.

Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide rates have been reported to be particularly high in professional managerial, and executive groups. We reviewed English language epidemiological studies on suicide and occupation published since 1982. Some studies suggest that workers in a number of occupations, including chemistry, farming, and law enforcement, may have elevated suicide rates. The weight of current evidence supports the conclusion that both male and female physicians have elevated rates of suicide, with females at particularly high risk. Elevated rates of suicide in a particular occupational group may result from a complex interaction between job factors such as work stress and access to means and other risk factors such as age and presence of a mental disorder.

Men have higher drowning rates than women for most age groups. Data from a 1991 national household survey (n = 3042) on aquatic activities were used to examine hypotheses about differential drowning rates by sex. Men and women were compared by (1) exposure to aquatic environments; (2) frequency of aquatic activities involving, or potentially involving, submersion; (3) swimming training and ability; (4) aquatic risk-taking behaviors; and (5) alcohol use on or near the water. Men had elevated risks for exposure, risk taking, and alcohol use. It was concluded that several factors contribute to their relatively high drowning rates, including a possible interaction between overestimation of abilities and heavy alcohol use.

Participation in an Employee Fitness Program: Determinants of High Adherence, Low Adherence, and Dropout. L. Lechnel; H. De Vries. JOEM, 37(4), April 1995.

Capodanno Senza Danno: The Effects of an Intervention Program on Fireworks Injuries in Naples. P. D’Argenio, L. Cafaro, E Santonastasi, E Tag@, N. Binkin. American Journal of Public Health, 86(l), 84-86.

This article presents the results of a study of the determinants of adherence level in an em-

To study multifaceted

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the effects intervention

of a comprehensive, program to reduce

Journal of Safety Research