THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL MODULE FOR EXPECTANT PARENTS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISKS CONTRIBUTING TO MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT INJURIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
Contributors: West Virginia University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 261
Subjects: Education, Curriculum and Instruction.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: Motor vehicle occupant injuries are the leading cause of death in children. There is a need for prevention studies which focus on sources of risk for unintentional injury, emphasizing risk appraisal and reduction. The purpose of this formative evaluation study was to design an educational module to encourage expectant parents to modify risk factors that contribute to injury in a motor vehicle crash. Emphasis was placed on reducing risks of nonuse or improper use of occupant restraint systems, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while fatigued, and speeding.

The module incorporated strategies which theorists claim are effective with adult learners. The six learning activities were based on Lewis' model of the modes of transmission of knowledge which lead to value choices: authority, deductive logic, senses, emotion, intuition, and science. Using formative evaluation, the module was reviewed by a panel of experts for quality and validity.

A convenience sample of eighteen expectant parents participated in the study. Each completed a pre-questionnaire, a two hour teaching session, and a post-questionnaire which was administered immediately following the session. The research questions evaluated the effectiveness of the six learning activities in enhancing the process of valuing occupant protection for newborns and reducing risk factors.

The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentage, frequency of responses, and chi-square. Qualitative analysis was also used.

The findings revealed statistically significant differences between learning activities and their perceived effectiveness in eliciting both a desire in expectant parents to protect their babies from injury and a feeling of motivation to change risk behavior(s). Activities matching each mode of knowing in order of their perceived effectiveness were senses, deductive logic and authority, science, emotion, and intuition. Of twelve participants reporting risk factors, 75% agreed to set goal(s) for change following completion of the module. All participants agreed to always use approved car safety seats in the motor vehicular transport of newborns.

It was concluded that education was effective for encouraging at least short term motivation for expectant parents to change selected risk factors that contribute to motor vehicle occupant injuries in early childhood.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-11, Section: A, page: 3974.

Thesis (ED.D.)--WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0256.