A Brief MI Intervention in the ED to Increase Child Passenger Restraint Use

Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) remain a leading cause of death among children after the
first year of life despite substantial improvements in passenger safety. Deaths and severe
injuries from MVCs can be reduced significantly through the consistent use of
size-appropriate child passenger restraints. Still, 10% of children ride completely
unrestrained and roughly one-quarter do not use the recommended restraint for their size.
New approaches are needed to motivate behavior change among parents who do not consistently
use size-appropriate passenger restraints for their children from birth through age 10.
Emergency department (ED) visits represent unique opportunities to reach vulnerable children
and their parents who have difficulty accessing the primary care settings where childhood
injury prevention information is commonly provided. Motivational interviewing (MI) in the ED
has been used to encourage a variety of health behaviors among at-risk patients. However, MI
has not been previously evaluated for child passenger safety promotion programs. This study
will involve an ED-based intervention utilizing MI techniques and patient-centered (e.g.,
tailored) print materials to promote the correct and consistent use of size-appropriate
child passenger restraints. This study is designed as a randomized pilot trial of the
intervention utilizing a 2x2 factorial design to examine the independent and additive
effects of ED-based MI and tailored print materials on the consistent use of
size-appropriate child passenger restraints. Aim 1) To assess the feasibility and
acceptability of the ED-based intervention among parents of children from birth through age
10; Aim 2) To determine the impact of the intervention on child passenger restraint
attitudes and practices at 6-month follow-up in comparison to baseline assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Must be an adult (18+ years) parent or caregiver who regularly drives with their
child,

- are able to speak and read English,

- who is presenting to the ED with their child age birth to 10 years.

- Child must be <4'9" in height.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Adult participants must be able to speak and read English