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Each year, 75 million people worldwide suffer from different sporting injuries. It has been shown that the majority of these injuries occur among athletes who did not wear protective equipment. The diversity of demands in sport requires a wide range of products for sufficient body protection, but to be efficient, the benefit of the protective clothing and equipment must meet the athlete's approval. Major impact protective clothing of five popular sports and its role in injury prevention have been identified through a systematic review of the literature. It has been found that although a variety of impact protectors are available, and most athletes are aware of their effectiveness in preventing injuries, the use of impact protective clothing and equipment is often rejected by athletes. Impact protectors in sport are designed to protect people, but their shock-absorbing ability often stands in contradiction to their wearing comfort and freedom of movement. In order for impact protecting clothing to gain wider acceptance and encourage use that is more regular during sport, sportswear and sporting textile devices that incorporate impact protective components must fulfil the requirements not only for effective protection, but also the athlete's performance and comfort.

Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the state of the art over the 1979‐97 period, with particular emphasis on the topics that have been researched, the extent of the theory development in the field and the methodologies used in conducting research. Uses content analysis to review 75 relevant articles. Suggests that, while a considerable breadth of topics have been researched, there remains much to be done, there is further room for theoretical development in Chinese consumer behaviour studies; and the methodologies used need improvement and further refinement.

Those most socially disadvantaged are at a greater risk of common mental disorder (CMD). The need to evaluate the health impact of social policy interventions that aim to reduce social inequalities between the disadvantaged and the better off is well recognised. This paper reports findings from a review to explore evidence on the health impact of UK policy interventions that aim to tackle the key social determinants of CMD. These were previously identified from the literature as cumulative socioeconomic deprivation, unemployment, psychosocial work characteristics, and poor social relationships. We identified some evidence of a positive impact on CMD of urban regeneration schemes, but evidence was sparse on interventions relating to the other determinants. The ability of research to inform policy designed to improve the lives of the disadvantaged could be assisted by a broader definition of what counts as evidence. This may include wider use of qualitative methodologies and a more deliberate focus on social processes known to be implicated in mental health.