@article {Villalb{\'\i}408, author = {Joan R Villalb{\'\i} and Montse Cleries and Susana Bouis and V{\'\i}ctor Peracho and Julia Duran and Conrad Casas}, title = {Decline in hospitalisations due to dog bite injuries in Catalonia, 1997{\textendash}2008. An effect of government regulation?}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {408--410}, year = {2010}, doi = {10.1136/ip.2010.026997}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Objective To analyse population-based data on hospitalisation caused by dog bite injuries after changes in legal regulations on dog ownership, including breed-specific regulations.Design Descriptive study.Setting Hospitals in Catalonia (Spain), 1997{\textendash}2008.Subjects Persons hospitalised with injuries caused by dog bites.Results There has been a significant decline in hospitalisation caused by injuries from dog bites from 1.80/100 000 in 1997{\textendash}9 to 1.11/100 000 in 2006{\textendash}8, after the enactment of stricter regulations on dog ownership in 1999 and 2002. The magnitude of this change is significant (-38\%), and has been greatest in less urban settings.Conclusions Government regulations were associated with a sizable decrease in injuries caused by dog bites in Catalonia. More evaluative studies in this field may provide criteria to focus future regulations and other preventive interventions.}, issn = {1353-8047}, URL = {https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/16/6/408}, eprint = {https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/16/6/408.full.pdf}, journal = {Injury Prevention} }