The effects of a 4-year program promoting bicycle helmet use among children in Quebec.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the effectiveness of a 4-year program of bicycle helmet promotion that targeted elementary school children in one region of Quebec. The program revolved primarily around persuasive communication and community organization, combining standard educational activities and activities to facilitate helmet acquisition and use.


METHODS
Helmet use was compared between more than 8000 young cyclists in municipalities exposed or not exposed to the program. Factors influencing helmet use were controlled through the use of multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
Helmet use increased from 1.3% before program implementation to 33% in 1993. The program was clearly effective in most cycling circumstances and for various groups of children. However, the benefits of the program were unequally distributed; the program was one third as effective in poorer municipalities as in "average-rich" ones.


CONCLUSIONS
This community-based program that combined various types of activities appeared to be effective. New intervention models are needed to ensure an equitable distribution of benefits.
Farley
C
C
Charles LeMoyne Public Health Unit, South Shore Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Haddad
S
S
Brown
B
B
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors