UMTRI Project
Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries in Michigan: Booster Seat Research Study
Sponsor: Michigan Department of Community Health
Investigators: David W. Eby, C. Raymond Bingham
10/01/2005 - 09/30/2006
<p>Proper use of child restraints can reduce the severity of injury during a crash. While much is known about use and misuse of child safety seats, relatively little is known about the use and misuse of booster seats.</p>
<p>This project has four purposes: 1) determine a statewide (Michigan) booster seat use rate; 2) identify booster seat misuse trends statewide; 3) determine
reasons for booster seat nonuse/misuse; and 4) determine the perceptions of parents regarding barriers to implementation and perceived benefits of booster-seat interventions. Three research methodologies will be employed.
1) A direct-observation survey of driver shoulder belt use and child
booster-seat use at a sample of randomly-selected sites across the state.</p>
<p>Trained observers will look into vehicle a record data based upon direct-observation; 2 Interviews of drivers whose vehicle contains a target-aged child (5-9) in a booster seat and a visual inspection of the booster seat installation for correct/incorrect use; and 3) Telephone interviews of parents. The interview will use random-digit-dialing to collect data from a simple random sample of all Michigan residents who have target-aged children. The interview will explore attitudes toward restraint use, reasons for use/nonuse of booster seats, and reactions to potential interventions promoting booster seat use.</p>
<p>Potential barriers to implementation of interventions will also be explored. The results of this study will be used to design and develop community interventions to increase the rate of child booster seat use, and to promote knowledge about correct booster seat use. This information will have immediate significance for children in the state of Michigan, improving their safety and reducing vehicle crash related injury due to incorrect restraint use and non-use of booster seats</p>
