Parent and Child Perspectives on Children's Bicycle Helmet Use

Background: Increasing bicycle helmet use among children is essential to reducing numbers and severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite the recognized protection provided by bicycle helmets it is estimated that only 25% of people always wear one when they ride a bicycle. Although much research has focused on identifying determinants of bicycle helmet use, there has been limited success in changing and sustaining children's bicycle helmet use.

Objective: This study explores how perceptions of parents and children are influenced by the social, cultural, political, racial, and gender related contexts, in order to develop a model that associates such factors with children's bicycle helmet use.

Methods: Interviews with parents and focus groups with children in 3rd – 5th grade were conducted using grounded theory methodology. Constant comparative analysis and theoretical coding were used to analyze data and develop a model of how salient factors relate to each other.

Results: Findings will be discussed in the context of the social ecological model and public health practice that facilitates increasing maintenance of helmet use behaviors.

Conclusion: The emergent issues and themes warrant attention, as they are critical to developing effective and efficient bicycle helmet promotion programs at appropriate ecological levels to create sustainable change.