Rm. Williamsavery et Dp. Mackinnon, INJURIES AND USE OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AMONG COLLEGE IN-LINE SKATERS, Accident analysis and prevention, 28(6), 1996, pp. 779-784
In-line skating injuries and protective gear use were explored in a sa
mple of college students (n=217). A minority of respondents wore prote
ctive gear. One third of skaters had experienced at least one minor in
jury, and a smaller percentage had experienced fractures or head injur
ies. Most minor injuries occurred during the first 1-2 times skating,
while more serious injuries tended to occur after at least 50 times on
in-line skates. Psychosocial predictors of protective gear use were e
xplored. Four major Health Belief Model constructs (perceived barriers
to wearing gear, perceived susceptibility to injury, perceived severi
ty of injury, and perceived benefits of wearing gear) were significant
predictors of protective gear use. The Health Belief Model, tested us
ing regression and structural equation modelling, predicted gear typic
ally worn, frequency of gear use, and injuries received while in-line
skating. Implications for increasing protective gear use are described
. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.