Estimating the effects of a studded footwear subsidy program on pedestrian falls among older adults in Gothenburg, Sweden

• We study the effects of a studded footwear subsidy program in Gothenburg, Sweden, where a free pair of anti-slip devices was distributed to all residents aged over 65 years as a pedestrian falls prevention measure. Using a difference-in-differences approach with internal age-based controls, we find evidence of a short-term effect on emergency department visits due to slips on snow and ice during the first year of the intervention ( -45% [95% CI: - 54, - 9] in 2013), which equates to 21.8 injuries prevented (95% CI: 3.34, 39.4). A cost-benefit analysis based on this result suggests that the short-term benefits outweigh the total costs of the intervention (benefit-cost ratio: 6.9 [95% CI: 1.05-12.46]), indicating that this type of subsidy program may be an important tool for the prevention of pedestrian falls among older adults during icy weather conditions. However, replication at other sites is recommended before drawing any strong and general conclusions.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Vulnerable road users

Falls prevention

Elderly

Road safety

Evaluation

Quasi-experimental

time

mortality

surface

walking

devices

Engineering

Public

Environmental & Occupational Health

Vulnerable road users

Risk and Environmental Studies

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)