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An Evaluation of Think First Saskatchewan

A Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program

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Abstract

Objectives: To identify youth behaviour with regards to injury prevention, to assess the awareness of severity and susceptibility to brain and spinal cord injury, and to evaluate the impact of the Think First Saskatchewan school visit program on students’ knowledge of brain and spinal cord injury prevention.

Methods: A controlled, pre- and post-test design, self-report questionnaire was administered to 1,257 grade 6 and 7 students. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were used for data analysis. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results: Saskatchewan youth participate in activities that put them at risk for brain and spinal cord injury. The Think First Saskatchewan school visit program statistically improved self-reported knowledge of the students receiving the Think First message.

Discussion: Think First Saskatchewan is a brain and spinal cord injury prevention program that significantly improves youth knowledge pertaining to injury prevention. Further evaluation of the program to include a more delayed survey of retention of knowledge, changes to behaviour, and reduction of brain and spinal cord injury are necessary.

Résumé

Objectifs: Définir le comportement des jeunes en matière de prévention des blessures, afin d’évaluer leurs connaissances de la gravité des blessures au cerveau et à la moelle épinière et de leur vulnérabilité à ces blessures, et d’évaluer les incidences du programme de visites scolaires Think First Saskatchewan sur les connaissances, chez les élèves, des mesures de prévention de cette catégorie de blessures.

Méthode: Des questionnaires préliminaires et de vérification, auto-administrés sous surveillance, ont été remplis par 1 257 élèves de 6e et 7e année. Les données ont été analysées par statistique descriptive et analyse du khi-carré. Les valeurs P inférieures à 0,05 ont été jugées significatives.

Résultats: Les jeunes de la Saskatchewan s’adonnent à des activités qui les rendent vulnérables aux blessures au cerveau et à la moelle épinière. Le programme de visites scolaires Think First Saskatchewan a statistiquement amélioré les connaissances déclarées des élèves ayant reçu le message «Think First».

Discussion: Think First Saskatchewan est un programme qui améliore sensiblement les connaissances des jeunes en matière de prévention des blessures. Il faut cependant en poursuivre l’évaluation en ajoutant un questionnaire différé pour évaluer la rétention des connaissances, les modifications du comportement et la réduction des blessures au cerveau et à la moelle épinière.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alberta Glen Sather Sport Medicine Clinic, E-05 Van Vliet Center, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada

    Marni L. Wesner MD

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  1. Marni L. Wesner MD
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Correspondence to Marni L. Wesner MD.

Additional information

This research was funded by a grant from Think First Saskatchewan.

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Wesner, M.L. An Evaluation of Think First Saskatchewan. Can J Public Health 94, 115–120 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404583

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404583

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