A common concern is that injury prevention initiatives by communities can be ineffective because they lack a scientific basis. This is often because there is still a lack of research on practical methods for reducing the incidence and severity of injuries, particularly among high-risk population groups.

The objectives of injury prevention research include:

• Quantifying the incidence and nature of injury events
• Determining risk factors for behaviour and injury
• Identifying barriers to targeting risk factors and how to overcome them
• Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions
• Determining the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit ratios of particular interventions

Research also permits a more detailed social and economic profile of injury risk and, therefore, the ability to target prevention strategies towards groups and communities where the risks are known to be higher.