Objective: The Pittsburgh Bicycle Helmet Promotion Coalition (PBHPC) was formed in 1998 to increase bicycle helmet use, awareness, and availability through coalition building and implementation of a multi-faceted helmet promotion campaign. Our objective was to measure the impact of the PBHPC’s efforts on child helmet use over time. Methods: Prospective, pre test/ post test, observational study of bicycling children. Baseline data were obtained in summer, 1998, with follow up observation in summer 1999. Observation sites were randomly chosen to be representative of the entire Pittsburgh community and were static across years. Bicyclists’ characteristics including helmet use, race, gender, estimated age, and estimated age of companions were recorded. Results: (Table).
|
N |
Helmet Use |
% Change |
P Fisher’s Exact |
||
|
1998 (n=949) |
1999 (n=415) |
||||
|
Overall |
1364 |
19% |
29% |
+10 |
.000 |
|
Male |
1035 |
17 |
25 |
+8 |
.009 |
|
Female |
326 |
25 |
41 |
+16 |
.007 |
|
White |
647 |
33 |
44 |
+11 |
.05 |
|
Nonwhite |
715 |
7 |
11 |
+4 |
.05 |
|
Age <9 |
394 |
23 |
51 |
+27 |
.000 |
|
Age 10-12 |
531 |
16 |
32 |
+16 |
.000 |
|
Age >12 |
438 |
17 |
12 |
-5 |
.074 |
|
Helmeted companions |
254 |
69 |
71 |
+3 |
.78 |
|
Child riding with adult |
105 |
57 |
74 |
+16 |
.099 |
Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression within each year revealed that specific rider characteristics, including female gender,age <12, white race, helmeted companions, and riding with an adult predict increased helmet use.
Conclusions: After one year, the urban community in which the PBHPC operated realized significant gains in overall bike helmet use.
Learning Objectives: Describe the impact of a community coalition on bike helmet use. Identify the components of an effective bike helmet community coalition
Keywords: Bike Helmets, Children and Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.