W G Lane1, G C Liu, E Newlin. 1. Department of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if hands-on instruction in child safety seat (CSS) installation decreases the number of errors in installation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care offices, emergency department, CSS checkpoint. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children <2 years old receiving medical care or attending a CSS check. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Errors in CSS use. Results. Only 6.4% of parents had a correctly installed CSS. Hands-on instruction was associated with fewer errors in seat installation. Increased parent age, completion of college, and having private insurance were also associated with fewer errors in CSS placement. The majority of parents learned to install seats from reading the manual, from friends and relatives, and from figuring it out on their own. CONCLUSIONS: Errors in CSS installation are a significant problem. Hands-on instruction decreases the numbers of errors in CSS installation. However, few parents receive hands-on instruction from experts in CSS installation. Increases in correct CSS use could result from hands-on education by trained professionals.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if hands-on instruction in child safety seat (CSS) installation decreases the number of errors in installation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care offices, emergency department, CSS checkpoint. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children <2 years old receiving medical care or attending a CSS check. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Errors in CSS use. Results. Only 6.4% of parents had a correctly installed CSS. Hands-on instruction was associated with fewer errors in seat installation. Increased parent age, completion of college, and having private insurance were also associated with fewer errors in CSS placement. The majority of parents learned to install seats from reading the manual, from friends and relatives, and from figuring it out on their own. CONCLUSIONS: Errors in CSS installation are a significant problem. Hands-on instruction decreases the numbers of errors in CSS installation. However, few parents receive hands-on instruction from experts in CSS installation. Increases in correct CSS use could result from hands-on education by trained professionals.