Citation

Seijts GH, Kok G, Bouter LM, Klip HA. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 1995; 149(2): 174-180.

Affiliation

Department of Health Education, University of Limburg, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7849879

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore behavioral factors that determine whether children (aged 7 to 13 years) wear bicycle safety helmets. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Three Dutch primary schools in Breda, Maastricht, and Terneuzen, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-nine children aged 7 to 13 years. INTERVENTION: Wearing a bicycle safety helmet for 6 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Information about experiences with the bicycle safety helmet was gathered via questionnaires. Wearing a bicycle safety helmet was described as inconvenient, time-consuming, and uncomfortable. Children also perceived negative reactions from their social environment. CONCLUSIONS: Planned health promotion activities will be essential for the introduction of bicycle safety helmets to be successful. These activities should focus particularly on developing a comfortable bicycle safety helmet, creating facilities to store bicycle safety helmets, and changing negative social norms regarding wearing a bicycle safety helmet.