Date Available

12-10-2019

Year of Publication

2019

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Advisor

Dr. Leslie Scott

Committee Member

Dr. Diana Inman

Committee Member

Dr. Jessica Murray

Co-Director of Graduate Studies

Dr. Susan Robbins

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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