Which is a common cause of injury among adolescents?

MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-2)

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Unsafe driving practices are a primary cause of injury for adolescents, with motor vehicle accidents being a leading cause of death and nonfatal injury in this age group.
Teen drivers (ages 15-17) have more than double the rate of collisions compared to older drivers, attributed to immaturity, lack of skills, and inexperience.
Specific high-risk behaviors include distracted driving (e.g., texting, which can increase crash risk up to sixfold), driving with teen passengers, driving at night, and driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
Data shows that a significant percentage of adolescents engage in these risky behaviors; for example, 39% of high school students admitted to texting or emailing while driving.

Option A: Adequate sleep is a protective factor. It improves alertness, reaction time, and decision-making, thereby reducing the risk of accidental injury.
Option B: This describes a healthy behavior. While excessive screen time is associated with health problems like obesity and sleep disruption, having insufficient (i.e., limited) screen time is beneficial and does not cause physical injuries.
Option C: This is a health-promoting behavior. Regular physical activity strengthens bones and muscles and improves coordination. While sports-related injuries can occur, a 'regular physical pattern' itself is a positive habit, not a common cause of overall adolescent injury.

Visual 1: Infographic: A bar chart illustrating the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in adolescents, with motor vehicle accidents prominently featured.
Visual 2: Flowchart: Depicting the factors that contribute to unsafe driving in teens, such as inexperience, distraction, and peer pressure, leading to an increased risk of accidents.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Common causes of injury and risk factors in the adolescent population helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses have a vital role in providing anticipatory guidance to both adolescents and their parents about driving safety, including the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of seatbelts, and graduated driver's licensing (GDL) programs.
Screening for risk-taking behaviors is a key part of adolescent health assessments. This includes asking about substance use, driving habits, and mental health, using tools like the CRAFFT screen for substance abuse.
Patient education should emphasize that even a small amount of alcohol can impair a new driver and that many states have zero-tolerance laws for underage drinking and driving.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: it asks for a 'common cause of injury' specifically for the 'adolescent' population.
Analyze each option to determine if it represents a risk factor (something that causes harm) or a protective factor (something that promotes health).
Evaluate Option A ('Adequate sleep'), Option B ('Insufficient screen time'), and Option C ('Regular physical pattern'). Recognize these as descriptions of healthy, protective behaviors that would logically decrease, not cause, injury.
Evaluate Option D ('Unsafe driving practices'). Recall or deduce from general knowledge that motor vehicle accidents are a major public health concern and a leading cause of death and injury for teenagers.
By eliminating the three protective factors, conclude that the only plausible cause of injury among the choices is the high-risk behavior of unsafe driving.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Common causes of injury and risk factors in the adolescent population.
Stem keywords: common cause, injury, adolescents
Lead-in keywords: Which is

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