Evaluation of the Boost 'em in the Back Seat Program: using fear and efficacy to increase booster seat use.
OBJECTIVE
Recent research supports the use of high-threat messages when they are targeted appropriately and designed to promote high efficacy as well as fear. This research examined the effectiveness of using a novel threat-appeal approach to encourage parents to place their children in booster seats and rear seats of vehicles.


METHODS
A 6-min video-intervention was created and evaluated at after-school/daycare centers via an interrupted time series design with similar control sites for comparison. Caregivers (N=226) completed knowledge and practice surveys and fear and efficacy estimations related to childhood motor vehicle hazards. Researchers observed booster-seat and rear-seat use in study site parking lots.


RESULTS
Compared to baseline and control assessments, the treatment groups' child passenger safety knowledge, risk-reduction attitudes, behavioral intentions, sense of fear related to the hazard, and sense of efficacy related to the recommended behaviors increased significantly. Further, observed overall restraint use and booster-seat use increased significantly following the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Applying high-threat messages to child passenger safety interventions is promising and has the potential to be adapted to other health risk areas.
Will
Kelli England
KE
Department of Pediatrics, Williams Hall, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 West Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510-1001, USA. willke@evms.edu
Sabo
Cynthia Shier
CS
Porter
Bryan E
BE
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D011482:Protective Devices; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040241:Social Marketing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014741:Video Recording; D014768:Virginia