Date Available

12-10-2019

Year of Publication

2019

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Committee Chair

Dr. Leslie Scott

Clinical Mentor

Dr. Susan Robbins

Committee Member

Dr. Diana Inman

Committee Member

Dr. Jessica Murray

Abstract

Background: Injuries sustained from motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children every year. In one year, more than 618,000 children 0-12 years of age rode in vehicles without the use of a proper restraint device at least some of the time. Of the children ages 12 years and younger who died in a motor vehicle accident in 2016 (for which safety restraint use was known), 35% were not buckled up (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to evaluate parental knowledge and understanding of car seat and booster seat use in children.

Methods: A cross-sectional pre-test intervention design was used. Parents of children seen at the Family Care Center meeting inclusion criteria were provided a 15-question survey to evaluate current knowledge of car seat and booster seat guidelines. Upon completion of the survey, parents were provided with a brief educational session on car seat and booster seat recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and questions were addressed.

Findings: Fifty-six surveys were completed, and data analysis indicated that most parents had an adequate understanding of car seat and booster seat use. However, many parents had a misunderstanding on the proper age and weight recommendations for transition to a different restraint device.

Conclusion: As death of children and adolescents by motor vehicle accidents due to improper use of safety restraints continues to be a major epidemic in the United States, parental education on height, weight, age, and transition recommendations for car seats and booster seats remains a mandatory intervention.

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