Physician-based counseling of patients regarding the proper use of seat belts and admonitions for driving while intoxicated do not lead to demonstrated improvements in behavior or public health, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Research conducted by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found that while physician counseling causes no apparent harm, the benefits attributable to it are generally negligible. The group recommends that physicians and their patients may be better served by using office visit time to focus on other preventive care issues.
While a physician office visit may not be the most effective forum for safety belt education, the use of safety belts is critical to your health. According to the National Safety Council, every car collision consists of three collisions:
Properly worn safety belts spread the force of a sudden stop across your entire body, and stretch slightly to slow your body gradually on impact and increase its stopping distance. Not only can safety belts save your life, they can significantly reduce the injuries you’re likely to suffer in an accident.
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