Community interventions in children's injury prevention: Differing costs and differing benefits

Abstract

Three studies focused upon implementation issues in children's injury prevention programs. Study One used a small group design to examine the parent as a cost-effective safety skills instructor and to assess the possibility of crossproblem generalization of training. The results suggested that with hourlong instruction sessions, volunteer parents who received once-weekly professional instruction could effectively teach their children home safety skills across a variety of areas. There were also some indications of generalization of two of the three untrained areas-Study Two attempted to replicate these effects with a larger group of parents whose children volunteered for instruction. This study showed very weak and inconsistent effects for home safety skills instruction, with the primary reason for the lack of replication appearing to be inadequate instruction by the parent. The demands of training with no enhancing motivation through contact with a professional appeared to limit the amount and rigor of instruction for most community participants. A third study examined the influence of a one-time, hospitalbased workshop on home safety, and the same low-level gains were discovered. The similarities and differences in these three methods of delivering home safety instruction are considered, and future challenges to implementation are discussed.