title: An evaluation of evidence-based paediatric injury prevention policies across Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Policies to reduce injury among Canadians can be controversial and there is variability in the enactment of injury prevention laws across the country. In general, laws are most effective when they are based on good research evidence, supported by widespread public awareness and education, and maintained by consistent enforcement strategies. The purpose of this study was to document and compare key informants' perceptions of the quality, awareness, and enforcement of three evidence-based paediatric injury prevention policies (bicycle helmet legislation, child booster seat legislation, graduated driver licensing) among Canadian provinces and territories.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified best practices related to each policy, then developed an online survey to ascertain the extent to which each jurisdiction's policy aligned with best practices, whether experts believed that the public was aware of the policy and whether it was enforced. The survey was distributed using a snowball sampling strategy to key informants across Canada.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight key informants responded to the bicycle helmet survey, with 73 and 35 key informants for the booster seat and graduated driver licensing surveys, respectively. Respondent's perceptions of the policies varied substantially. Key informants indicated that residents are not always aware of legislation, and legislation is not consistently enforced. These results suggest that child health policy is not always guided by evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was variation between evidence and the policies related to paediatric injury prevention among Canadian provinces and territories. Experts generally rate their policies more highly when they align with evidence and best practice. There is room for improvement and harmonization of injury prevention policies.
authors.affiliation: 337 Bethune College, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. alison3@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Alison K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, F508-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3 V4, Canada. mbrussoni@cw.bc.ca.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brussoni
authors.affiliation: Parachute Canada, 150 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E8, Canada. pfuselli@parachutecanada.org.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuselli
authors.affiliation: Georgian College, One Georgian Drive, Barrie, ON, L4M 3X9, Canada. tara_middaugh@rogers.com.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Middaugh-Bonney
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, F508-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3 V4, Canada. spiedt@cw.bc.ca.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, F508-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3 V4, Canada. ipike@cw.bc.ca.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pike
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*