Continuing Nursing Education
Pediatric Injury
Prevention: Methods of
Booster Seat Education
Julie K. Philbrook, Andrew W. Kiragu, Joni S. Geppert, Patricia R. Graham, Laura M. Richardson and Robert L. Kriel
Sixty elementary schools in Minneapolis were asked to participate in a study to evaluate the most effective education method to increase booster seat knowledge and use in kindergarten-age children. School personnel
selected one of the following interventions: 1) written information, 2) parent education class and a free
booster seat, or 3) student education and a free booster seat. Twenty schools participated, with 132 parents
completing the telephone interview 3 to 6 months post-survey. Providing instructions to parent groups
and teaching children in the classroom, along with providing an incentive booster seat, was shown to
increase booster seat use. Providing information only was found to be ineffective. Pediatric and school nurses
should focus their injury prevention efforts beyond written materials. Results indicate that presentations
for children and their parents, along with incentives, can result in changes in behavior.
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