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Evaluation of a Bicycle Helmet Safety Program for Children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2014

Michael D. Cusimano ,
Ahmed Faress ,
Wilson P. Luong ,
Sally Lockhart ,
Khizer Amin ,
Rhonda J. Garland  and
Kelly Russell
Michael D. Cusimano*
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Ahmed Faress
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Wilson P. Luong
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Sally Lockhart
Affiliation:
Spectrum Solutions, Coleman, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Khizer Amin
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Rhonda J. Garland
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
Kelly Russell
Affiliation:
Injury Prevention Research Office, Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
*
Injury Prevention Research Office, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 bond Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8, Canada. Email: injuryprevention@smh.ca
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Abstract:

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Background:

Helmets have been shown to decrease the risk of brain injury; however, helmets must be worn correctly and fit well in order to be effective. The objective of this study is to determine whether kindergarten-aged children could learn and retain appropriate helmet wearing technique through an educational bicycle safety program.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of scores in questionnaires administered before and after an educational intervention to kindergarten students four to six years of age. The study took place in Prince Edward Island, Canada. A Wilcoxon Sign-Rank Test was used to determine if there was a significant overall increase in knowledge; McNemar chi-square tests were used to determine if there was an increase in knowledge for individual questions.

Results:

There was significant improvement in pre-test to immediate post-tests scores and pre-test to delay post-test scores when the results were stratified by age, sex, bike riding status, and helmet wearing status (p<0.001 for all comparisons). In particular, correct responses for the questions regarding appropriate helmet distances from the eyes increased from 38.9% in the pre-test to above 90% in the post-tests (p<0.001). Correct responses for the question pertaining to appropriate fitting of helmet straps increased from 71.7% pre-test to above 90% in the post-tests (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

There was improved knowledge of appropriate helmet-wearing technique among kindergarten-aged children as a result of the educational intervention, and knowledge gains were retained for at least one month.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 40 , Issue 5 , September 2013 , pp. 710 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2013

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