Prof Mark Stevenson - Researcher Profile

Mark Stevenson

Address

Monash University
Wellington Road, Clayton

Biography

Accidents and injuries part of a bigger picture

 

What do rugby union players and Vietnamese motorists have in common? Both have a high risk of suffering a head injury. Because of this they are also part of Professor Mark Stevenson’s novel research, which applies a public health approach to the study of injury. His findings are leading to change that significantly reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.

Mark’s work employs epidemiology, a research method traditionally used to study disease within populations. Extending this approach to accidents and injury has identified clear causes of injury within larger systems. It can provide an unequivocal case for changes in policy or practice.

 

“Most people perceive injuries or accidents as chance occurrences,” says Mark, who is director of the Accident Research Centre. “But we know from studying injuries or accidents scientifically that they have underlying causes and distributions like any other disease that can be studied and therefore prevented.” 

 

For example, Mark’s pioneering work on hospitalised car accident victims found that using a mobile phone while driving increased the risk of crashing four-fold. The research has contributed to changing driving laws in Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

 

His current research into the head injuries suffered by rugby union players is set to transform the way mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion, is managed. The study, funded by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tracked 3000 social-level players in Australia for three years. It found players who sustained one head injury faced a greater risk of sustaining a second, leading to potentially fatal consequences. Details will be published this year. 

 

Mark also expects his Australian Research Council Linkage research into heavy-vehicle crashes to produce significant recommendations on trucking schedules and driver payments to reduce accident risks. The results of the study, the largest of its kind internationally, will also be released this year. 

 

Mark says the ability to produce tangible evidence to effect real change provides the greatest satisfaction in his work. “We are generally dealing with key questions that have very high public health significance,” he says. “What really motivates me is to have good-quality evidence to drive policy changes.”

 

This is the basis for work he is doing in Vietnam, where injury is the leading cause of death for people aged under 55 years (as it is in Australia). He is working with the Vietnamese Government to evaluate its mortality reporting system. This project is supported by AusAID funding. “It’s incredibly valuable for countries to have reliable information on which to plan their health services and research programs,” he says. “We can use our epidemiological skills to improve those health systems.”

 

Several of Mark’s road trauma research findings proven in Australia are now being applied in countries experiencing rapid motor-vehicle growth, including India and Vietnam. While those countries may have rapidly developing physical infrastructure, there is little attention being paid to the underlying systems so important to managing the growth and ensuring safe (and sustainable) transport, he says.

 

“There’s a wealth of research needed to support these countries to ensure they don’t go through a huge spike in road trauma that developed countries have seen,” he says.

Keywords

Injury Epidemiology, Road Safety, Evaluation Methodology

Qualifications

FELLOWSHIP
Institution: Australasian College of Road Safety
Year awarded: 2008
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (WITH DISTINCTION)
Institution: The University of Western Australia
Year awarded: 1995
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Institution: Curtin University
Year awarded: 1990

Publications

Journal Articles

Keay, L., Hunter, K., Brown, J., Bilston, L., Simpson, J., Stevenson, M.R., Ivers, R., 2013, Child restraint use in low socio-economic areas of urban Sydney during transition to new legislation, Accident Analysis and Prevention [P], vol 50, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 984-981.

Fitzharris, M.P., Stevenson, M.R., Middleton, P., Sinclair, G., 2012, Adherence with the pre-hospital triage protocol in the transport of injured patients in an urban setting, Injury-International Journal Of The Care Of The Injured [P], vol 43, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1368-1376.

Sharwood, L., Elkington, J., Stevenson, M., Grunstein, R., Mueleners, L., Ivers, R., Haworth, N., Norton, R., Wong, K., 2012, Assessing sleepiness and sleep disorders in Australian long-distance commercial vehicle drivers: self-report versus an 'at home' monitoring device, Sleep [P], vol 35, issue 4, Associated Professional Sleep Societies, United States, pp. 469-475.

Keay, L., Hunter, K., Brown, J., Simpson, J., Bilston, L., Elliott, M., Stevenson, M.R., Ivers, R., 2012, Evaluation of an education, restraint distribution, and fitting program to promote correct use of age-appropriate child restraints for children aged 3 to 5 years: a cluster randomized trial, American Journal of Public Health [E], vol 102, issue 12, American Public Health Association, USA, pp. 96-102.

Stevenson, M.R., Le, N.T., Hung, H.V., Nguyen, T.H.T., Anh, M.L., Ivers, R., Hoang, H.T., 2012, Evaluation of the Vietnamese A6 mortality reporting system: injury as a cause of death, Injury Prevention [P], vol 18, BMJ Group, United Kingdom, pp. 360-364.

Stevenson, M., 2012, Safety cameras: more, not fewer, saves lives, Injury Prevention [P], BMJ Group, United Kingdom, pp. 1-2.

Fitzharris, M., Stevenson, M., Middleton, P., Sinclair, G., 2011, Adherence with the pre-hospital triage protocol in the transport of injured patients in an urban setting, Injury-International Journal Of The Care Of The Injured [P], vol e, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-9.

Taylor, C., Stevenson, M., Jan, S., Liu, B., Tall, G., Middleton, P., Fitzharris, M., Myburgh, J., 2011, An investigation into the cost, coverage and activities of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the state of New South Wales, Australia, Injury-International Journal Of The Care Of The Injured [P], vol 42, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1088-1094.

Boufos, S., Ivers, R., Senserrick, T., Stevenson, M., 2011, Attempts at the practical on-road driving test and the Hazard Perception Test and the risk of traffic crashes in young drivers, Traffic Injury Prevention [E], vol 12, issue 5, Taylor & Francis Ltd, United States, pp. 475-482.

Ivers, R., Keay, L., Brown, J., Bilston, L., Hunter, K., Simpson, J., Stevenson, M., 2011, Buckle up safely: a cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-school based program to increase appropriate use of child restraints, BMC Public Health [P], vol 11, issue 16, BioMed Central Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 1-6.

Boufous, S., Ali, M., Nguyen, H., Stevenson, M., Vu, T., Nguyen, D., Ivers, R., Pham, C., Nguyen, A., 2011, Child injury prevention in Vietnam: Achievements and challenges, International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion. [P], vol E, Taylor & Francis Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-7.

Hollis, S., Stevenson, M., McIntosh, A., Shores, E., Finch, C., 2011, Compliance with return-to-play regulations following concussion in Australian schoolboy and community rugby union players, British Journal Of Sports Medicine [P], vol e, BMJ Group, United Kingdom, pp. 1-6.

Senserrick, T., Yu, J., Du, W., Stevenson, M., Ivers, R., 2011, Development of a supplementary education and training program for novice drivers in China, Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety [P], vol 22, issue 2, Australasian College of Road Safety, Australia, pp. 36-41.

Sharwood, L., Elkington, J., Stevenson, M., Wong, K., 2011, Investigating the role of fatigue, sleep and sleep disorders in commercial vehicle crashes: a systematic review, Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety [P], vol 22, issue 3, Australasian College of Road Safety, Australia, pp. 24-30.

Hollis, S., Stevenson, M., McIntosh, A., Li, L., Heritier, S., Shores, E., Collins, M., Finch, C., 2011, Mild traumatic brain injury among a cohort of rugby union players: predictors of time to injury, British Journal Of Sports Medicine [P], vol 45, BMJ Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 997-999.

Taylor, C., Stevenson, M., Jan, S., Middleton, P., Fitzharris, M., Myburgh, J., 2010, A systematic review of the costs and benefits of helicopter emergency medical services, Injury-International Journal Of The Care Of The Injured [P], vol 41, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 10-20.

Boufous, S., Ivers, R., Senserrick, T., Stevenson, M., Norton, R., Williamson, A., 2010, Accuracy of self-report of on-road crashes and traffic offences in a cohort of young drivers: the DRIVE study, Injury Prevention [P], vol 16, BMJ Group, United Kingdom, pp. 275-277.

Martiniuk, A., Ivers, R., Glozier, N., Patton, G., Senserrick, T., Boufous, S., Lam, L., Williamson, A., Stevenson, M., Woodward, M., Norton, R., 2010, Does psychological distress increase the risk for motor vehicle crashes in young people? Findings from the DRIVE study, Journal of Adolescent Health [P], vol 47, Elsevier Inc, United States, pp. 488-495.

Boufous, S., Ivers, R., Senserrick, T., Norton, R., Stevenson, M., Chen, H., Lam, L., 2010, Risky driving behavior and road traffic crashes among young Asian Australian drivers: findings from the DRIVE study, Traffic Injury Prevention [P], vol 11, issue 3, Taylor & Francis Inc, United States, pp. 222-227.

Chen, H., Ivers, R., Martiniuk, A., Boufous, S., Senserrick, T., Woodward, M., Stevenson, M., Norton, R., 2010, Socioeconomic status and risk of car crash injury, independent of place of residence and driving exposure: results from the DRIVE study, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health [P], vol 64, BMJ Group, United Kingdom, pp. 998-1003.

Stevenson, M., Sharwood, L., Wong, K., Elkington, J., Meuleners, L., Ivers, R., Grunstein, R., Williamson, A., Haworth, N., Norton, R., 2010, The heavy vehicle study: a case-control study investigating risk factors for crash in long distance heavy vehicle drivers in Australia, BMC Public Health [P], vol 10, BioMed Central Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-5.

Hollis, S., McIntosh, A., Stevenson, M., Shores, E., Collins, M., Taylor, C., 2009, Incidence, risk, and protective factors of mild traumatic brain injury in a cohort of australian nonprofessional male rugby players, American Journal of Sports Medicine [P], vol 37, issue 12, Sage Publications Ic, United States, pp. 2328-2333.

Ivers, R., Senserrick, T., Boufous, S., Stevenson, M., Chen, H., Woodward, M., Norton, R., 2009, Novice drivers' risky driving behavior, risk perception, and crash risk: Findings from the DRIVE study, American Journal Of Public Health [P], vol 99, issue 9, American Public Health Association, United States, pp. 1638-1644.

Chen, H., Ivers, R., Martiniuk, A., Boufous, S., Senserrick, T., Woodward, M., Stevenson, M., Norton, R., Williamson, A., 2009, Risk and type of crash among young drivers by rurality of residence: findings from the DRIVE study, Accident Analysis and Prevention [P], vol 41, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 676-682.

Martiniuk, A., Ivers, R., Glozier, N., Patton, G., Lam, L., Boufous, S., Senserrick, T., Williamson, A., Stevenson, M., Norton, R., 2009, Self-harm and risk of motor vehicle crashes among young drivers: findings from the DRIVE study, Canadian Medical Association Journal [P], vol 181, issue 11, Canadian Medical Association, Canada, pp. 807-812.

Grants

Title:
Distribution and Determinants of injury outcomes: A Cohort Study.
Investigators:
McClure, R, Stevenson, M
Funding:
(2010 - 2014). Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research.
Title:
Evaluation of Child Injury Prevention (CIP) Program in Vietnam.
Investigators:
Oxley, J, Stevenson, M, Cuong, P, Jamaludin, A
Funding:
(2011 - 2015). United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Title:
Neurocognitive Predictors of Risky Driving in Young People.
Investigators:
Stout, J, Stevenson, M, Meuleners, L
Funding:
(2013 - 2017). Curtin University of Technology.
(2013 - 2017). University of Western Australia.
Title:
Study into the safe carriage of personnel in general service vehicles.
Investigators:
Rechnitzer, G, Haworth, N, Stevenson, M, Wheeler, B, Vulcan, A, Larsson, T, Grzebieta, R, Triggs, T
Funding:
(1998 - 2002). Department of Defence (Commonwealth of Australia).
Title:
Work-related road traffic injury: managing the risk.
Investigators:
Stevenson, M, Newnam, S, Griffin, M, McClure, R, Heller, G
Funding:
(2013 - 2017). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Title:
Integrated Facility for Recording Driver and Road User Behaviour.
Investigators:
Regan, M, Grzebieta, R, Williamson, A, Charlton, J, Watson, B, Stevenson, M, Lenne, M, Salmon, P, Rakotonirainy, A, Haworth, N, Woolley, J
Funding:
(2013 - 2017). Australian Research Council (ARC).
(2013 - 2017). Monash University.
Title:
NHMRC Research Fellowship.
Investigators:
Stevenson, M
Funding:
(2010 - 2014). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
(2012 - 2016). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
(2013 - 2017). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).