161970 Can a computer kiosk in the Pediatric Emergency room increase safety practices in the home?

Monday, November 5, 2007: 10:45 AM

Wendy C. Shields, MPH , Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Eileen M. McDonald, MS , Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Lara B. Trifiletti, PhD, MA , Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus Children's Research Center, Columbus, OH
Mei-Cheng Wang, PhD , Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Allen R. Walker, MD , Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Andrea C. Gielen, ScD, ScM , Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
     
OBJECTIVE: The advent of computer technology has revolutionized many aspects of medical care, and it has great potential for injury prevention. This study evaluated the use of a computer kiosk child safety intervention for parents whose children were receiving emergency medical care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Parents (N=720) of young children (0-5yrs) being seen in an urban Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) for an injury or medical complaint completed a baseline assessment at a computer kiosk. They were randomly assigned to receive one of two computer-generated reports: 1) a personalized safety report containing tailored, stage-based safety messages (intervention group) based on Weinstein's Precaution Adoption Process Model or 2) a report on other topics (control group). Follow-up interviews were conducted by telephone 4 -6 months later.

RESULTS: Virtually all (95%) intervention parents remembered receiving the report and read at least some of it, 62% read it all, 66% discussed it with others. Intervention parents who read and discussed the report were significantly more likely to report to having a working smoke alarm on all levels (OR=2.59, 95% CI=1.12, 6.01) and slightly more likely to more likely to report correct car seat use (OR=1.47, 95% CI=.99, 2.18) effects remained significant with adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS: Computer technology and theory-based, tailored educational messages can be effectively used for injury prevention in pediatric emergency departments serving low income families. To further advance child safety, such interventions should be developed and evaluated in the wide array of settings that serve the health care needs of children.

Learning Objectives:
1. List five practical implications for using innovative technology in the Pediatric Emergency room. 2. Articulate the procedure for assessing the safety behaviors of families using a computer kiosk. 3. Recognize different health behaviors which could utilize a similar approach to educate parents

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Computer-Assisted

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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