Year: 2006 Source: Psychological Reports, v.99, no.2, (October 2006), p.651-658 SIEC No: 20090588

The present study assessed newspaper reports of injuries affecting individuals with Spanish surnames & compared newspaper reports to hospital injury discharge data in 2 counties in Colorado. Motor vehicle crashes, assualt & legal intervention, & suicide & suicidal acts were counted. A higher proportion of people with Spanish surnames were reported in newspapers than expected based on hospital discharge data. Suicide & suicidal acts were not often reported in newspapers relative to hospital discharge data; however, the proportion of Hispanics was not significantly different. Findings suggest newspaper reports may be helpful in the surveillance of injuries but they should not be used in the absence of other data sources. (10 refs.)