OBJECTIVES: Bicycle-related injury remains a major cause of death and injury hospitalization among Australian children. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a whole-school intervention to increase the correct wearing of bicycle helmets by primary school children. METHODS: A randomized intervention trial was conducted in 27 Western Australian primary schools. A major component of the intervention was a peer-led classroom curriculum for 10-12 year old children. Helmet use by cyclists was observed as children were leaving school at baseline (May 2000) and after the first year and second year of the intervention. A cohort of 10-11 year old children in study schools completed a self-administered questionnaire at the same three data collection points. RESULTS: Over the 2 years of the study, observed helmet wearing rates declined by 13% in the control group (from 93% at baseline to 80% at post-test 2) and by 5% in the intervention group (from 89% to 84%) (F = 1.745, p = 0.185). Among the Grade 5/6 cohort students who were regular riders, the likelihood of reporting always wearing a helmet was 1.9 times higher at post-test 1 (z = 2.51, p = 0.012) and 1.7 times higher at post-test 2 (z = 2.13, p = 0.033) for the intervention group than the control group students who did not always wear a helmet at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that school-based activities can arrest the rate of decline in helmet use by children. Using peer teachers is a useful strategy to engage students in normative-based protective behaviours. The logistical challenges this strategy presents appear to be worth the outcomes.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Bicycle-related injury remains a major cause of death and injury hospitalization among Australian children. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a whole-school intervention to increase the correct wearing of bicycle helmets by primary school children. METHODS: A randomized intervention trial was conducted in 27 Western Australian primary schools. A major component of the intervention was a peer-led classroom curriculum for 10-12 year old children. Helmet use by cyclists was observed as children were leaving school at baseline (May 2000) and after the first year and second year of the intervention. A cohort of 10-11 year old children in study schools completed a self-administered questionnaire at the same three data collection points. RESULTS: Over the 2 years of the study, observed helmet wearing rates declined by 13% in the control group (from 93% at baseline to 80% at post-test 2) and by 5% in the intervention group (from 89% to 84%) (F = 1.745, p = 0.185). Among the Grade 5/6 cohort students who were regular riders, the likelihood of reporting always wearing a helmet was 1.9 times higher at post-test 1 (z = 2.51, p = 0.012) and 1.7 times higher at post-test 2 (z = 2.13, p = 0.033) for the intervention group than the control group students who did not always wear a helmet at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that school-based activities can arrest the rate of decline in helmet use by children. Using peer teachers is a useful strategy to engage students in normative-based protective behaviours. The logistical challenges this strategy presents appear to be worth the outcomes.
Authors: Shifalika Goenka; Abha Tewari; Monika Arora; Melissa H Stigler; Cheryl L Perry; J P Saulina Arnold; Sangita Kulathinal; K Srinath Reddy Journal: Health Educ Res Date: 2010-09-30
Authors: David J Ederer; Truong Van Bui; Erin M Parker; Douglas R Roehler; Mirjam Sidik; Michael J Florian; Pagna Kim; Sophal Sim; Michael F Ballesteros Journal: Inj Prev Date: 2015-08-25 Impact factor: 2.399
Authors: Rebecca Langford; Christopher Bonell; Hayley Jones; Theodora Pouliou; Simon Murphy; Elizabeth Waters; Kelli Komro; Lisa Gibbs; Daniel Magnus; Rona Campbell Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-02-12 Impact factor: 3.295