title: A randomized trial to assess the effectiveness of an infant home safety programme.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test an intervention aimed at addressing the risk of injury in infants 2 - 12 months of age. A non-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted, whereby parents were randomly assigned to either a control or one of two intervention groups. Parents completed questionnaires regarding safety behaviours and injuries at the 2 (baseline), 6 and 12 month immunization visit at the community health unit. During the 2 month visit to the health unit, the two intervention groups received a home safety kit containing nine items, an instructional brochure and a risk assessment checklist. Subjects randomized to the safety kit plus home visit group also received a standardized home visit from a community health nurse. Two of the 14 parental safety behaviours showed a significant increase in use among parents in the intervention groups. Neither of the interventions was associated with a reduction in parent-reported injuries among children. It was concluded that home visitation may provide a beneficial adjunct to the provision of safety devices and may increase use by parents.
authors.affiliation: BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, Vancouver, BC, Canada. sbabul@cw.bc.ca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babul
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McIntee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raina
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002170:Canada; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010174:Pamphlets; D012307:Risk Factors