Providing car seat checks with well-child visits at an urban health center: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a pilot program of providing child restraint system (CRS) checks by certified technicians with well-child care in an urban health center serving a low-income community.


METHODS
During well-child care, nationally certified child passenger safety technicians assessed CRS use, educated care givers, corrected misuse, and provided a new CRS if necessary. The program's effect was assessed at a subsequent medical visit.


RESULTS
A total of 3650 CRS checks were performed. CRS non-use was found for 307 (17%) infants, 604 (50%) toddlers, and 593 (88%) booster seat-sized children. Exposure to the program was associated with a significant positive effect on CRS use (p<0.001) and significant improvements in the major components of misuse (p<0.05) months later.


CONCLUSIONS
This urban health center has high rates of CRS non-use and near-universal misuse. Providing CRS checks by certified technicians during well-child care is a promising means of promoting sustained and improved CRS use.
Quinlan
Kyran P
KP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637-1470, USA. kquinlan@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu
Holden
Janet
J
Kresnow
Marcie-Jo
MJ
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*