Dataset Information

The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark-A time series intervention study.

ABSTRACT: As dog bite injuries are a considerable problem in modern society, in order to reduce such injuries, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in a number of countries. Whilst many studies have shown a lack of effect with such legislation, the commonly used methodology is known to be flawed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the Danish breed-specific legislation on the number of dog bite injuries using more credible methods. A time series intervention method was used on a detailed dataset from Odense University Hospital, Denmark, regarding dog bite injuries presented to the emergency department. The results indicate that banning certain breeds has a highly limited effect on the overall levels of dog bite injuries, and that an enforcement of the usage of muzzle and leash in public places for these breeds also has a limited effect. Despite using more credible and sound methods, this study supports previous studies showing that breed-specific legislation seems to have no effect on dog bite injuries. In order to minimise dog bite injuries in the future, it would seem that other interventions or non-breed-specific legislation should be considered as the primary option.

SUBMITTER: Nilson F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6306151 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark-A time series intervention study.

Nilson Finn F Damsager John J Lauritsen Jens J Bonander Carl C

PloS one 20181226 12

As dog bite injuries are a considerable problem in modern society, in order to reduce such injuries, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in a number of countries. Whilst many studies have shown a lack of effect with such legislation, the commonly used methodology is known to be flawed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the Danish breed-specific legislation on the number of dog bite injuries using more credible methods. A time series intervention method w ...[more]

PMID: 30586418

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Project description:In rabies endemic areas, appropriate management of dog bites is critical in human rabies prevention. Victims must immediately wash bite wound for 15 minutes with water, soap, and a disinfectant before seeking medical care. This study investigated the epidemiology of dog bites and the determinants of compliance to these pre-clinical guidelines requirements among dog bite victims from high rabies-burden areas of Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 376 dog-bite patients at two healthcare facilities. Qualitative data were also collected through 13 in-depth interviews with patients, healthcare workers, herbalists, and veterinarians. Qualitative data were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach. Generalized linear models were used to determine factors associated with compliance. Nearly half (190, 51%) of the patients were from Wakiso District and 293 (77.9%) had grade II wounds. Most of the wounds (171, 45.5%) were on the legs. Two-thirds of the bites occurred in public places. Only 70 (19%) of the bite patients had complied with pre-clinical guidelines. Nearly half of the patients had applied substances that were not recommended e.g. herbs (47/193), antiseptics (46/193), "black stone" (25/193), and unknown creams (10/193). Factors negatively associated with compliance included: being aged 15 years or older, adjPR = 0.70 (0.47-0.92) and knowing the dog owner, adjPR = 0.65 (0.36-0.93). However, attainment of secondary or higher education, adjPR = 1.76 (1.24-3.79), being in employment, adjPR = 1.48 (1.09-2.31), perception that the dog was sick, adjPR = 1.47 (1.02-2.72) and knowledge about the dog's subsequent victim(s) adjPR = 0.35 (0.17-0.70) were positively associated with compliance. High occurrence of dog bites in public places by free-roaming dogs suggests the need for deliberate promotion of responsible dog ownership. Additionally, targeted health education may be required to improve the low compliance to pre-clinical guidelines.

Project description:BackgroundTo characterize pediatric dog bite injuries presenting to US children's hospitals and identify factors associated with clinically significant injuries.MethodsWe performed a multicenter observational study from 26 pediatric hospitals between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2020, including patients ≤ 18 years with dog bites, consolidating together encounters from patients with multiple encounters within 30 days as a single episode of care. We characterized diagnoses and procedures performed in these patients. We used generalized linear mixed models to identify factors associated with a composite outcome that we term clinically significant injuries (defined as admission, operating room charge, sedation, fractures/dislocations, intracranial/eye injury, skin/soft tissue infection, or in-hospital mortality).Results68,833 episodes were included (median age 6.6 years [interquartile range 3.5-10.4 years], 55.5% male) from 67,781 patients. We identified 16,502 patients (24.0%) with clinically significant injuries, including 6653 (9.7%) admitted, 5080 (7.4%) managed in the operating room, 11,685 (17.0%) requiring sedation, 493 (0.7%) with a skull fracture, 32 (0.0%) with a fracture in the neck or trunk, 389 (0.6%) with a fracture of the upper limb, 51 (0.1%) with a fracture in the lower limb, 15 (0.0%) with dislocations, 66 (0.1%) with an intracranial injury and 164 (0.2%) with an injury to the eyeball, 3708 (5.4%) with skin/soft tissue infections, and 5 (0.0%) with in-hospital mortality. In multivariable analysis, younger age (0-4 years, 5-9 years, and 10-14 years relative to 15-18 years), weekday injuries, and an income in the second and third quartiles (relative to the lowest quartile) had higher odds of clinically significant injuries. Black patients (relative to White), Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, and private insurance status (relative to public insurance) had lower odds of clinically important injuries. When evaluating individual components within the composite outcome, most followed broader trends.ConclusionDog bites are an important mechanism of injury encountered in children's hospitals. Using a composite outcome measure, we identified younger, White, non-Hispanic children at higher risk of clinically significant injuries. Findings with respect to race and ethnicity and dog bite injuries warrant further investigation. Results can be used to identify populations for targeted prevention efforts to reduce severe dog bite injuries.

Dataset Information

The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark-A time series intervention study.

Publications

The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark-A time series intervention study.

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