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This study was conducted to determine the frequency and nature of basketball injuries occurring in a rural setting. More than 6000 patients with sports-related injuries presented to a rural emergency department between June 1, 1988 and June 1, 1994. Of these patients, 1189 (19% of the total) were injured playing basketball. A chart abstraction form was utilized to retrospectively review injuries noting demographics, types and sites of injuries, as well as referral and treatment plans. Approximately two-thirds (66.4%) of those injured were males, with most injuries (53%) occurring during school-related activities. Almost four-fifths (78%) of injuries occurred between the ages of 10 and 19. The ankle (33.1%) was the body site most commonly injured, followed in frequency by finger injuries (19.3%), sprains and strains, which accounted for the majority (55%) of injuries. The most common mechanism of injury was recorded in which no contact with other players occurred (37.4%). The vast majority (99%) of injuries were managed as outpatients. The majority of cases (72%) were expected to recover within 2 weeks. Similarities were noted regarding sites of injury and age of distribution of patients when compared to the previous studies.

A small number of women are the owner/operators of farms and women often participate in the work of production agriculture. Estimates of the percentage of females involved in agricultural injuries range from 11-45% and it is not clear if the risk factors associated with injuries to women are different from those for men. In a two year case-control study of injuries to farm residents, there were 40 injuries involving adult women. Multivariable analysis revealed that the two major risk factors for agricultural injury to females were number of hours worked and the presence of bulls on the farm. Most (55%) of the women were injured while in a barn. A cow was the primary agent of injury in 17 (42.5%) of the cases. Efforts to reduce the rate of injuries to women in agriculture should be targeted to the particular risks they experience.

A system for identification and classification of the chronic mentally ill in the outpatient mental health sector is proposed, integrating three criteria: duration of illness, functional disability, and psychiatric diagnosis. Previous psychiatric hospitalization of a patient is used to determine their level of severity within the system. An example of the operationalism of these criteria is provided, along with validation of the system by using treatment and sociodemographic variables and indicators of the patient's level of functioning.

Ninety-eight schizophrenic outpatients receiving pharmacotherapy were surveyed on two census days, 18 months apart. From this study sample it was found that, as recently as 1987, 18% of the patients were prescribed three classes of neuroactive drugs--16% two antipsychotic drugs simultaneously. Of antipsychotics receivers, 44% were prescribed anticholinergics, 3% antidepressants, and 4% benzodiazepines. Between census days, a significant shift from use of oral antipsychotics to the depot form of administration occurred, while polypharmacy frequency remained unchanged. An analysis of the data will provide guidelines for rendering a more rational pharmacological treatment.