The injury prevention tool in which the application of the epidemiological triangle can be seen most clearly is the Haddon Matrix, which is presented in Figure 3.2. William Haddon took the three factors and added to them a time dimension which also had three categories. These categories include:
- the period before an injury occurs, known as the pre-event phase
- the period in which the injury occurs - the event phase; and
- the period following the occurrence of an injury, the post-event phase.
By presenting the phases and factors together, in a nine-celled matrix, he provided a format for systematically examining all possibleavenues of intervention.
Haddon Matrix for Intervention Selection
Time Phase
Pre Event
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Event
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Post Event
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"Accident" Avoidance (primary prevention)
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Injury Prevention
(secondary prevention)
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Severity Reduction (tertiary prevention)
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The matrix facilitates the development of strategies at each event stage in terms used in the classical prevention of infectious diseases. Primary prevention or initial avoidance of the disease (or harmful condition) is appropriate in the pre-event stage. Secondary prevention or avoidance of complications is appropriate for the event stage, and tertiary prevention, or attempts to limit and repair damage that has already been done is most applicable in the post event stage.
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