Development and validation of the Spanish Hazard Perception Test.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study is to develop and obtain valid evidence for a hazard perception test suitable for the Spanish driving population. To obtain valid evidence to support the use of the test, the effect of hazardous and quasi-hazardous situations on the participants' hazard prediction is analyzed and the pattern of results for drivers with different driving experience--that is, learner, novice, and expert drivers and reoffender vs. nonoffender drivers--is compared. Potentially hazardous situations are those that develop without involving any real hazard (i.e., the driver did not actually have to decelerate or make any evasive maneuver to avoid a potential collision). The current study analyzed repeat offender drivers attending compulsory reeducation programs as a result of reaching the maximum number of penalty points on their driving license due to repeated violations of traffic laws. METHOD: A new video-based hazard perception test was developed, using a total of 20 hazardous situation videos plus 8 quasi-hazardous situation videos. They were selected from 167 recordings of natural hazards in real Spanish driving settings. RESULTS: The test showed adequate psychometric properties and evidence of validity, distinguishing between different types of drivers. Psychometric results confirm a final version of the hazard perception test composed of 11 video clips of hazards and 6 video clips of quasi-hazards, for which an overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient of.77 was obtained. A lack of ability to detect quasi-hazards and distinguish them from hazardous situations was also found for learner, novice, and reoffender drivers. Learner drivers obtained lower average scores than novice and experienced drivers with the hazardous situation videos, and learner drivers obtained lower average scores than experienced drivers with the quasi-hazardous situation videos, suggesting that the ability to correctly identify hazardous traffic situations may develop early by accumulating initial driving experience. However, the ability to correctly identify quasi-hazardous situations may develop later with the accumulation of further driving experience. Developing this ability is also difficult for reoffender drivers. CONCLUSION: The test has adequate psychometric properties and is useful in distinguishing between learner, novice, and expert drivers. In addition, it is useful in that it analyzes the performance of both safe and unsafe drivers (reoffenders who have already lost their driving license).

Intoxicaciones con aceite de lamparillas en sacerdotes católicos / Intoxications with lamp oil in catholic priests

Este estudio se llevó a cabo ante la detección de casos de ingestión de aceite de lamparillas por parte de sacerdotes católicos de diferentes comunidades autónomas españolas. Los datos analizados, desde enero de 1991 a Julio del 2003, fueron: edad del paciente, circunstancias de la exposición (horario, lugar, cantidad) y manifestaciones clínicas. Un total de 16 casos cumplieron los parámetros de inclusión. La primera consulta se recibió en noviembre de 1997. El número de exposiciones fue mayor los miércoles, sábados y domingos. El horario de los incidentes reflejó los horarios de las misas (por la mañana temprano 2, mediodía 5, tarde 3 y tarde-noche, 6 casos). La edad media de los pacientes fue de 49 años. El aceite se bebía después de ser mezclado con el vino durante la misa o directamente de la botella, en el intervalo entre las celebraciones. La cantidad ingerida fue de solo uno o dos tragos aunque ocasionalmente la mezcla de aceite y vino se bebió totalmente (unos 200 ml). Los síntomas fueron: diarrea (4), vómitos (2), dolor abdominal (2) y esputo hemoptoico (1). En 10 episodios los pacientes permanecieron asintomáticos. Las intoxicaciones laborales en el ambiente religioso representan una circunstancia infrecuente. La confusión se debió a la similitud del envase de aceite de parafina con las botellas de agua mineral. Los datos reportados indican que es necesario hacer toxicovigilancia en lugares inusuales

This investigation was prompted by the detection of lamp oil ingestions among catholic priests from different regions of Spain. Data analysed from January 1991 to July 2003 was for patient age, circumstances of exposure (timetable, site, amount) and clinical symptoms. A number of 16 cases met inclusion criteria. The first case was recorded in November 1997. The number of exposures was higher on Wednesday, Sunday and Saturday. Time of the incidents reflected the timetable of Mass (early morning 2, midday 5, afternoon 3 and evening 6 cases). The mean age was 49 year old. Lamp oil was drunk after being mixed with wine during the Mass or directly from the bottle between services. The amount swallowed was only one or two sips although occasionally the mixture of oil and wine was drunk totally (around 200 ml). Symptoms were: diarrhoea (4), vomiting (2), abdominal pain (2) and hemoptoic sputa (1). In 10 occasions the patients remained asymptomatic. Occupational toxic exposure in a religious environment is an uncommon event. The confusion was due to the similarity of the paraffin oil container with the bottles of mineral water. Data reported in this study indicates the need for workplace surveillance in unusual places