Can textbook covers be used to increase poison center utilization?
An education program was implemented at a regional poison center to increase use of a new nationwide 800 number (800/222-1222) in counties in our region that had low rates of utilization. We identified 10 counties with the lowest utilization rates and provided textbook covers to the elementary and secondary schools in these areas. The covers contained the poison help logo and information about what to do if a poisoning occurs. Changes in utilization rate for these counties were compared to similar counties over the course of a year. Utilization rates increased in both sets of counties over the study period, but there was no significant difference (p = 0.84) between the 2 groups. Use of textbook covers to increase awareness and utilization made little impact beyond our normal efforts and was not cost-effective.
Yudizky
Mike
M
North Texas Poison Center, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA.
Grisemer
Paige
P
Shepherd
Greene
G
Ray
Michelle
M
Garrison
James
J
D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D013689:Telephone; D013781:Texas; D013782:Textbooks as Topic