Is the introduction of violence and injury observatories associated with a reduction in violence-related injury in adult populations? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to summarise the results from existing studies reporting on the effectiveness of the introduction of violence and injury observatories (VIOs).DesignThis is a systematic review and meta-analysis study.Data sourcesWe searched multiple electronic databases including but not limited to PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Cochrane Collaboration, Campbell Collaboration and Web of Knowledge.Eligibility criteriaWe included non-randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, controlled before-and-after studies and cross-sectional studies. We sought to include studies performed in any country and published in any language. The primary outcome was homicide, while the secondary outcome was assault.Data extraction and synthesisWe searched a number of databases, supplemented by searches in grey literature including technical reports. Searches comprised studies from January 1990 to October 2018.ResultsOf 3105 potentially relevant unique citations from all literature searches, 3 empirical studies and 4 technical reports met our inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted in the UK (n=3), Colombia (n=2), Brazil (n=1) and Uruguay (n=1). Subgroup analyses according to the two types of models implemented, the VIO and the injury surveillance system (ISS), provided evidence for an association between implementing the VIO model and a reduction in homicide count in high-violence settings (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.06; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.19; four studies), while the introduction of ISS showed significant results in reducing assault (IRR=0.80; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.91; three studies).ConclusionThis systematic review provides the best evidence available for the effectiveness of the introduction of VIOs and ISSs in reducing violence outcomes in adults in high-violence settings. The implementation of VIOs should be considered in high-violence communities where reduction in homicide rates is desired.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42014009818.

Family violence homicide rates: a state-wide comparison of three data sources in Victoria, Australia

“…The Victorian Homicide Register may be better suited than the NCIS for FVH trend determination in Victoria. Additionally, through inter-dataset comparisons, this study sets a precedent for future research on violence surveillance systems or "observatories" (Jabar et al, 2019) in Victoria that use different data sources to harmonise case frequencies, address incomplete data and potentially improve the quality of FVH pattern analyses.…”

“…However, for the state of Victoria, unit records of FVH victims should be compared across the three datasets to identify reasons for data mismatch and to enhance data accuracy. Research should be directed towards the establishment of violence or injury observatories (Jabar et al, 2019) to integrate data from different clinical and legal Victorian datasets to enhance FVH data quality, timeliness and completeness.…”

“…Various global mortality studies indicate high (Iwanicki et al, 2018; Lauritsen et al, 2016), or poor correlation of results due to data source variability (Lyman et al, 2004; Huff-Corzine et al, 2014; Pizzaro and Zeoli, 2013). The exercise of harmonising multiple data sources to improve injury data quality is crucial and has been conducted in multiple countries (Jabar et al, 2019).…”