Cassell Erin, Newstead Stuart
Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University (Clayton Campus), Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Inj Prev. 2015 Feb;21(1):15-22. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041170. Epub 2014 Jun 2.
To estimate the effect of the 2005 Victorian mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) wearing regulations on PFD use by occupants of small (hull length ≤4.8 m) power recreational vessels.
Before-after observational study investigating the probability of PFD use among occupants of small vessels before and after the regulations were introduced compared with the probability of use by their counterparts on large power vessels (hull length >4.8-12 m) who were not required to wear PFDs before or after the regulations were introduced in the low-risk conditions in which observations occurred.
Statewide observation surveys of boaters were conducted in peak boating periods between January and March 2005 (prelegislation) and 2007 (postlegislation). Data collection included size of vessel, age and sex of boaters, life jacket use, boat type, activity of boaters, type of waterway and weather and water conditions. Logistic regression modelling tested whether there were statistically significant differences in the change in the relative odds of occupants wearing PFDs from the preintervention to the postintervention period in small compared with large power recreational vessels.
The probability of PFD use increased from 22% to 63% on small power vessels compared with 12% to 13% on large vessels. Regression analysis showed a high statistically significant increase in the odds of PFD use on small vessels relative to large vessels (OR 6.2, 95% CI 4.2 to 9.3, p<0.001). No statistically significant effect on use on large vessels was associated with the regulation (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.70, p=0.15). Relative to large vessels, on small vessels the odds of PFD use increased significantly in both sexes, all age groups, all vessel types and activity groupings except for towed water sports where the increase was only marginally statistically significant.
The legislative intervention was successful in increasing PFD wearing in small vessels. However, visible enforcement and tougher penalties are needed to optimise compliance.
评估2005年维多利亚州强制佩戴个人漂浮装置（PFD）的规定对小型（船体长度≤4.8米）动力休闲船只乘员使用PFD的影响。
前后观察性研究，调查规定实施前后小型船只乘员使用PFD的概率，并与大型动力船只（船体长度>4.8 - 12米）乘员在规定实施前后于观察发生的低风险条件下使用PFD的概率进行比较。
在2005年1月至3月（立法前）和2007年（立法后）的划船高峰期对全州的划船者进行观察调查。数据收集包括船只大小、划船者年龄和性别、救生衣使用情况、船型、划船者活动、水道类型以及天气和水况。逻辑回归模型测试了小型动力休闲船只与大型动力休闲船只相比，从干预前到干预后时期乘员佩戴PFD的相对几率变化是否存在统计学上的显著差异。
小型动力船只上PFD的使用概率从22%增至63%，而大型船只上则从12%增至13%。回归分析显示，相对于大型船只，小型船只上使用PFD的几率有高度统计学显著增加（比值比6.2，95%置信区间4.2至9.3，p<0.001）。该规定对大型船只的使用无统计学显著影响（比值比1.27，95%置信区间0.94至1.70，p = 0.15）。相对于大型船只，在小型船只上，除拖曳水上运动中增加仅具有微弱统计学显著性外，所有性别、所有年龄组、所有船型和活动分组中PFD使用的几率均显著增加。
立法干预成功提高了小型船只上PFD的佩戴率。然而，需要进行明显的执法并实施更严厉的处罚以优化合规情况。
