Childhood injury prevention advice: a survey of health professionals responses to common scenarios.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the responses of health professionals when asked at what age a child could safely engage in a number of common activities and scenarios.


METHODS
Eleven scenarios reflecting everyday activities were adapted from the BBC book Play it Safe. Questionnaires were completed by a convenience sample of health professionals. Respondents were asked to give the minimum age they felt a child could safely engage in each of the activities. The literature was searched for an evidential basis for answers to the activities and scenarios posed.


RESULTS
A total of 215 questionnaires were completed. For all questions there was a spread in responses of at least 9 years. Recommended answers were found in the literature for six of the scenarios, however, in only four of these was this confirmed to have an evidential basis. Fifty-four per cent of responses were at least 2 or more years from these recommended answers.


CONCLUSIONS
Injury prevention advice needs to be consistent and, where possible, evidentially based. Health professionals often need to rely on their own opinions to provide advice. This survey shows opinions vary and highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines for parents and professionals.
Tomlinson
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Child Health Department, Torbay Hospital, Lawes Bridge, Torquay TQ2 7AA, UK. Richard.Tomlinson@doctors.org.uk
Sainsbury
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D000056:Accident Prevention; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires