This study sought to determine current knowledge-levels of health care providers regarding child passenger safety issues and frequency of counseling on this topic. In addition, this study explored the differences in child restraint knowledge levels and current counseling frequency between rural and urban health care providers. A survey of rural and urban caregivers found that health care providers of rural caregivers were less likely to ask about the type of child restraint being used and were less likely to provide information about the type of restraint a child should be using in a vehicle. In addition, rural caregivers were less likely than urban caregivers to keep their child rear-facing for longer periods of time. Urban parents were twice as likely to list their child’s health care provider as a primary source of information about child occupant protection issues. A survey of rural and urban health care providers found that rural health care providers were less likely than urban health care providers to always provide advice to caregivers regarding child occupant issues, were less confident about their ability to address caregiver questions and concerns related to specific child occupant issues, and were less likely to be knowledgeable about specific child occupant protection issues. (Author/publisher)
Abstract