Virtual Car Seat Installation Program Evaluation: Parent Satisfaction and Installation Accuracy.

Advanced Search

Gina P Duchossois, Stephanie Porco, Nicole J Kus, Ana Maria Dumitru, Myron Allukian

Author Information

Gina P Duchossois: Author Affiliations: Trauma and Injury Prevention Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ORCID

PMID: 40053553 DOI: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000835

BACKGROUND: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, but properly used child safety seats significantly reduce the risk of injury and mortality. In-person car safety seat installation programs were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the development of virtual alternatives. However, the effectiveness of these virtual installation programs remains unknown.
OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual car seat installation and safety check program on parental satisfaction, perceived value, confidence, and correct child safety seat installation.
METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted over 2 years (2020-2022) at a Level I pediatric trauma center in the Northeastern United States for parents participating in child safety seat programs. The pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of virtual car seat installation and safety checks on parental self-reported satisfaction, perceived value, and confidence levels before and after the intervention.
RESULTS: A total of n = 375 study participants received the intervention and follow-up surveys, with n = 129 respondents completing the survey for a 34% response rate. The study included child safety seats from 18 manufacturers and vehicles representing 25 brands. Before the intervention, 57% of parents reported the inability to install their child's safety seat safely. Following intervention, 100% of parents achieved proper car seat installation (p < .0001).
CONCLUSION: We found that offering a virtual car seat installation and verification program is a viable option when in-person options are not feasible.

Benedick A., De Leonardis D., Petraglia E., & Green J. (2020). Evaluation of correct child restraint system installation (Report No. DOT HS 812 976). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Brown J., Finch C. F., Hatfield J., & Bilston L. E. (2011). Child restraint fitting stations reduce incorrect restraint use among child occupants. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 43(3), 1128-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.12.021 [DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.12.021]
Centers for Disease and Prevention, & National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2024). Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).https://wisqars.cdc.gov/
Duchossois G. P., Nance M. L., & Wiebe D. J. (2008). Evaluation of child safety seat checkpoint events. Accidents Analysis and Prevention, 40(6), 1908��1912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2008.08.003 [DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2008.08.003]
Durbin D. R., & Hoffman B. D. (2018). Child passenger safety. Council on injury, violence, and poison prevention. Pediatrics, 142(5), e20182460. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2460 [DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-2460]
Edwards C., Arabian S. S., Colburn-Hargis P., Duchossois G., & Adams C. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. hospital-based injury prevention professionals: A national survey. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 30(1), 20��26. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000695 [DOI: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000695]
Kendi S., Taylor M. F., & Chamberlain J. (2020). Virtual car seat checks during a pandemic. Injury Prevention, 27(3), 283��285. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2020-044009 [DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-044009]
Kendi S., Taylor M. F., Thomas B., Khemraj U. D., Mohamed M. A., Macy M. L., & Chamberlain J. M. (2023). Randomised feasibility trial of a virtual intervention to address infant car seat misuse. Injury Prevention, 29(1), 29��34. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2022-044660 [DOI: 10.1136/ip-2022-044660]
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2023). Traffic safety facts 2021. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813509.pd
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation. Car Seat Installation Tips. (n.d.; 2024 June). https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/car-seat-installation-tips
Park G. J., Ro Y. S., Shin S. D., Song K. J., Hong K. J., & Jeong J. (2018). Preventive effects of car safety seat use on clinical outcomes in infants and young children with road traffic injuries: A 7-year observational study. Injury, 49(6), 1097��1103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.001 [DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.001]
Rudin-Brown C. M., Kramer C., Langerak R., Scipione A., & Kelsey S. (2017). Standardized error severity score (ESS) ratings to quantify risk associated with child restraint system (CRS) and booster seat misuse. Traffic Injury Prevention, 18(8), 870��876. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2017.1322204 [DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2017.1322204]
Schwebel D. C., Johnston A., & Rouse J. (2017). Teaching infant car seat installation via interactive visual presence: An experimental trial. Traffic Injury Prevention, 18(2), 188��192. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2019-043463 [DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2019-043463]
Swanson M., MacKay M., Yu S., Kagiliery A., Bloom K., & Schwebel D. C. (2020). Supporting caregiver use of child restraints in rural communities via interactive virtual presence. Health Education and Behavior, 47(2), 264��271. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119889101 [DOI: 10.1177/1090198119889101]
Vandenbroucke J. P., von Elm E., Altman D. G., G��tzsche P. C., Mulrow C. D., Pocock S. J., Poole C., Schlesselman J. J., & Egger M. (2007). Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and Elaboration. PLoS Medicine, 4(10), e297. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040297 [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040297]

Humans

Child Restraint Systems

Parents

Retrospective Studies

Male

Female

COVID-19

Program Evaluation

Child, Preschool

Pilot Projects

Accidents, Traffic

Adult

Infant

Child

Cohort Studies

SARS-CoV-2

Journal Article

No available data.

OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience