Prevalence of Psychosocial and Behavioral Aspects in Victims of Motorcycle Accidents in Civil Hospital, Karachi.

Abstract

IntroductionMotorcycles are common in a developing nation like Pakistan. In addition to their benefits, motorcycles carry a high risk for accident and injury. Many factors can exacerbate the risk of motorcycle operation including the use of mobile phones while riding, a lack of knowledge of traffic rules, not following road rules or non-satisfactory vehicle health and road conditions. Along with these physical factors, some psychosocial aspects also impact risks, including aggressive behavior of drivers or variations in driving patterns associated with changes in driver mood.ObjectiveWe conducted this study to determine the association of rider/operator behavioral and psychosocial factors with motor vehicle crashes.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on the patients of Civil Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan aged between 15 to 65 years. Data were collected from 150 patients in the outpatient department and emergency room via a questionnaire assessing driver biodata, license details, socioeconomic status, and their behavioral and psychosocial conditions. Inclusion criteria were limited to patients with motorcycle accidents only; patients involved in accidents from any other form of vehicle were excluded.ResultOf the 150 patients, 70% were reported varying their driving speed with fluctuating moods, 80% rode aggressively when they have any social or financial issue, and 57% became annoyed with another driver’s behavior-all of which highlight the influence of psychosocial factors in motorcycle crashes. Concerning behavioral factors, 88% of drivers were involved in unofficial races, 44% reported overtaking slower drivers, and 80% violated traffic signals on a regular basis. These results suggest that behavioral and psychosocial factors have a major influence on the victims of motorcycle accidents and are an important cause of injury due to crashes.ConclusionPsychosocial and behavior aspects play a critical role in motorcycle accidents. Riders experiencing family-related or social-related stress and those with an aggressive personality are more prone to have a motorcycle accident than riders who do not have those stressors. Additional measures should be taken to raise awareness regarding these important contributing factors, including stress management in driving education.