%0 Journal Article
%T Interactive education is associated with lower incidence of pedestrian-related injury in children
%J Journal of surgical research
%D 2019
%A McLaughlin, Cory M.
%A Barry, Wesley E.
%A Barin, Erica N.
%A Mert, Melissa
%A Lowery, Chantel
%A Upperman, Jeffrey S.
%A Jensen, Aaron R.
%A Arbogast, Helen
%V 244
%N 
%P 57-62
%X BACKGROUND: Pedestrian-related injuries are a significant contributor to preventable mortality and disability in children. We hypothesized that interactive pedestrian safety education is associated with increased knowledge, safe crosswalk behaviors, and lower incidence of pedestrian-related injuries in elementary school-aged children. <br><br>METHODS: An interactive street-crossing simulation was implemented at target elementary schools in Los Angeles County beginning in 2009. Mixed-methods were used to evaluate the impact of this intervention. Multiple-choice examinations were used to test pedestrian safety knowledge, anonymous observations were used to assess street-crossing behaviors, and statewide traffic records were used to report pedestrian injuries in elementary school-aged (4-11 y) children in participating school districts. Pedestrian injury incidence was compared 1 y before and after the intervention, standardized to the incidence in the entire City of Los Angeles. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 1424 and 1522 children completed the pretest and post-test, respectively. Correct answers increased for nine of ten questions (all P < 0.01). Children more frequently looked both ways before crossing the street after the intervention (10% versus 41%, P < 0.001). There were 6 reported pedestrian-related injuries in intervention school districts in the year before the intervention and 2 injuries in the year after the intervention, resulting in a significantly lower injury incidence (standardized rate ratio 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.73). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Pedestrian safety education at Los Angeles elementary schools was associated with increased knowledge, safe street-crossing behavior, and lower incidence of pediatric pedestrian-related injury. Formal pedestrian safety education should be considered with injury prevention efforts in similar urban communities.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0022-4804
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2019.06.015