Title: Academic formation and conceptions of

accident and injury among non-English

speaking students: A geometric data

analysis hard look at terminologization

and injury notions

Session: J10 - Editor's Choice

Date: Friday 24 September 2010

Time: 11:30 AM

Authors: Danilo Blank (presenter),

Marilyn Agranonik, Norma Marzola,

Marcelo Goldani

Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande

do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

terminologization?terminologization

Undergratuate curriculum

General

languageSpecialized

language

word

General

language

term

Specialized

language

Background:

Injury prevention

Active measures? Passive measures?

Behavioral

interventions

Safety education

Dependable

terminology

Accident?

Injury?

Injúria?

Methods:

http://bit.ly/wsurvey09

http://bit.ly/wsurvey09

blank@ufrgs.br

http://bit.ly/wsurvey09

http://bit.ly/CHERRIES

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

Target sample:

first-year and last-year

students of

• medicine,

• law,

• communication,

• education.

The questionnaire:

Proportion of subjects endorsingdisplayed meaning of the word “accident” (n=943).

10080604020

82.8

0

4.2

26.1

25.1

Copyright ©2006 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Acidente

Injúria

Lesão

Acidente

Injúria

Lesão

= accident !?!

Acidente

Injúria

Lesão

= accident !?!

≈ injury !injury

Acidente

Injúria

Lesão

= accident !?!

≈ injury !injury

≈ lesion (!)

injury (!?!)

primarily of physical damage, moral

damage or material damage?

lesão

acidente

injúria

The word makes you think

Which of these

best fits your idea of lesão?

Loss

Physical impairment

Offense

Stain

Traumatism

Which of these

best fits your idea of injúria?

Theft

Wound

Defamation

Loss

Calumny

Which of these

best fits your idea of acidente?

Misfortune

Imbalance

Chance

Loss of control

Negligence

When you hear the word acidente,

do you think that what happened

was done on purpose?

When you hear the word acidente,

do you think that what happened

was a work of fate?

When you hear the word acidente,

do you think that what happened

could have been foreseen?

When you hear the word acidente,

do you think that what happened

could have been prevented?

lesões

acidentes

injúrias

How preventable do you think that death

are?causing

Sent e-mails

(n=5322)

Stage unknown(n=1916)

Law(n=294)

Edu(n=751)

Com(n=871)

Med(n=394)

Law(n=704)

Edu(n=227)

Com(n=455)

Last-year students(n=1626)

Med(n=391)

Law(n=597)

Edu(n=378)

Com(n=260)

Valid e-mails

(n=4718)Law(n=260)

Edu(n=599)

Com(n=753)

Med(n=381)

Law(n=627)

Edu(n=204)

Com(n=413)

Med(n=368)

Law(n=513)

Edu(n=346)

Com(n=254)

Total number of

eligible respondents

(n=1450)First-year students

(n=785)

Last-year students(n=665)

Med(n=197)

Law(n=333)

Edu(n=89)

Com(n=166)

Med(n=102)

Law(n=263)

Edu(n=177)

Com(n=123)

First-year students(n=1780)

Total number of

respondents

(n=1626)

Law(n=46)

Edu(n=83)

Com(n=38)

Med(n=197)

Law(n=333)

Edu(n=89)

Com(n=166)

Med(n=102)

Law(n=263)

Edu(n=177)

Com(n=123)

Med(n=9)

Sample disposition:

Selected overall findings:

Injúria

Physical damage

Moral damage

Material damage

All three forms

of damage

6.6 %

80.4 %

9.1 %

1.2 %

80.4 %

Lesão

65.5 %

33.7 %

0.6 %

0.2 %

65.5 %

33.7 %

Acidente

61.7%

13.6 %

23.7 %

0.6 %

61.7%

23.7 %

13.6 %

Acidente

Lesão

Injúria

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

How preventable do you think that fatal accidents are?

accidents

lesions

injuries%

ofva

lida

nsw

ers

Students’ conceptions of the word acidente by course stage*

First year Last year Total

Preventable? (P=0.744)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Predicted? (P=0.002)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Work of fate? (P=0.937)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Done on purpose? (P=0.694)

*Data are shown as n (%) [adjusted residual, presented only in cases where P<0.05].

1225 (85.1%)124 (8.6%)90 (6.3%)

720 (50.3%)222 (15.5%)488 (34.1%)

215 (15.1%)194 (13.6%)

1013 (71.2%)

33 (2.3%)80 (5.6%)

1324 (92.1%)

Yes

Don’t know

No

1225 (85.1%)

720 (50.3%)

215 (15.1%)

33 (2.3%)

Students’ conceptions of the word acidente by course stage*

First year Last year Total

Preventable? (P=0.744)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Predicted? (P=0.002)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Work of fate? (P=0.937)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Done on purpose? (P=0.694)

*Data are shown as n (%) [adjusted residual, presented only in cases where P<0.05].

658 (84.6%)68 (8.7%)52 (6.7%)

360 (46.3%) [-3.3]122 (15.7%) [.2]

295 (38.0%) [3.3]

114 (14.8%)104 (13.5%)550 (71.6%)

18 (2.3%)47 (6.0%)

713 (91.6%)

360 (55.1%) [3.3]100 (15.3%) [-0.2]193 (29.6%) [-3.3]

567 (85.8%)56 (8.5%)38 (5.7%)

101 (15.4%)90 (13.8%)

463 (70.8%)

15 (2.3%)33 (5.0%)

611 (92.7%)

1225 (85.1%)124 (8.6%)90 (6.3%)

720 (50.3%)222 (15.5%)488 (34.1%)

215 (15.1%)194 (13.6%)

1013 (71.2%)

33 (2.3%)80 (5.6%)

1324 (92.1%)

Yes

Don’t know

No

Proportion of subjects endorsingdisplayed meaning of the word “accident” (n=943).

10080604020

82.8

0

4.2

26.1

25.1

Copyright ©2006 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Preventable?

50.3%

85.1%

2.3%

15.1%

Predictable?

Work of fate?

Done on purpose?

0 20 40 60 80 100%

Proportion of students endorsing

displayed meaning of the word acidente (n=1450).

Geometric data analysis:

0.50.0-0.5-1.0 1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

-1.0

1.0

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: ri

sk

les

sri

sk

yri

skie

r

more

concernDimension 1: other people’s level of concern

less

concern

Vanlaar et al. A perceptual map for understanding concern about unsafe driving behaviours.

Acc Anal Prev. 2008 ;40:1667-73.

cell

distract

fatigue

drugs

speed

drink

Conceptions and beliefs

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

iaPredictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

iaPredictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

iaPredictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

iaPredictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

iaOutcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Med First

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

0.50.0-0.5-2.5 -2.0 -1.5 -1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 1: λ=0.096 / 60.7% inertia

Dim

en

sio

n 2

: λ

=0

.04

4 /

12

.6%

in

ert

ia

IMorD

LStain

ICalAImb

ILoss

LBT

APrevis?ADest?

APrevis

ANDest

AMatD

LT

AMisf

APhysDLPhysD

APreven

APreven?

IDef

ABT

ANContr

ANPrevis

LMalf

ANegl

ANPreven

ADest

LDoe

AChance

IWound

IPhysD

IBT

NInstr

Cons

Progr

NDear

NHosp NSSRel

ModDear

Fem

Instr

Hosp

Mist

AdolDECAdolDNECCDEC

CDNEC

Polit?

NRelLaw First

Edu First

Edu Last

Comm Last

Comm First

Med First

SpecS

Masc

Law Last

Med Last

injúria = term

injúria = word

Outcome modalities (conceptions and beliefs)Predictor modalities (subjects’ attributes)

First year Communication First year MedicineFirst year EducationFirst year Law

Last year Education Last year MedicineLast year Communication Last year Law

Conclusions:

Undergraduate academic formation of Portuguese speakers

enhances the notion of foreseeability of injury causing events;

1

Undergraduate academic formation of Portuguese speakers

enhances the notion of foreseeability of injury causing events;

it does not change predominant conception that injury causing

events are largely preventable, whether they be referred to as

acidentes, injúrias or lesões;

1

2

Undergraduate academic formation of Portuguese speakers

enhances the notion of foreseeability of injury causing events;

it does not change predominant conception that injury causing

events are largely preventable, whether they be referred to as

acidentes, injúrias or lesões;

1

2

medical language: specific semantic spaces for the terms

lesão (anatomopathological damage without external causation)

and injúria (physical damage, with or without lesion),

which approximates the latter to the English injury;

3

Undergraduate academic formation of Portuguese speakers

enhances the notion of foreseeability of injury causing events;

it does not change predominant conception that injury causing

events are largely preventable, whether they be referred to as

acidentes, injúrias or lesões;

1

2

medical language: specific semantic spaces for the terms

lesão (anatomopathological damage without external causation)

and injúria (physical damage, with or without lesion),

which approximates the latter to the English injury;

3

a conceptual framework of injury as a nosologic entity:

terminologization of the word injúria in the medical domain

+

lay signification of the word acidente (an anteceding, unintentional,

and preventable event, which potentially causes injury).

4

Undergraduate academic formation of Portuguese speakers

enhances the notion of foreseeability of injury causing events;

it does not change predominant conception that injury causing

events are largely preventable, whether they be referred to as

acidentes, injúrias or lesões;

1

2

medical language: specific semantic spaces for the terms

lesão (anatomopathological damage without external causation)

and injúria (physical damage, with or without lesion),

which approximates the latter to the English injury;

3

a conceptual framework of injury as a nosologic entity:

terminologization of the word injúria in the medical domain

+

lay signification of the word acidente (an anteceding, unintentional,

and preventable event, which potentially causes injury.

4

Danilo Blank

blank@ufrgs.br

The original perceptual map of the study

can be viewed in every detail at

http://bit.ly/danilo_map